Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. Why is there a need for healing leaves from the tree in Revelations? means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." 3:1-10). Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul ext God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. Timothy, whom we looked at last week, was a gifted preacher and That was one less thing Paul had to be concerned about (2:26-27). Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? All believers share this bond, So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? That is what God calls us to. Bible. But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. I was having shortness of breath and others things like palpitations, light headedness,insomnia and all that. The Christian Apologists (150 220 C.E.). The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." So, Paul's third example is Epaphroditus, he is not an apostle, nor an For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. All this was done in a church in Austin, Texas with an Evangelist from Virginia working through the Gifts of the Spirit, ie, Word of Knowledge, working of miracles, gifts of healing. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. destruction and desolation. Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? 2. meeting their needs. distressed because you had heard that he was sick." It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. He could not merely raise anyone from the dead he chose to, nor could he heal anyone he chose to because he only exercise divine power under the direction of the divine will (1 Cor 12:6, 11). Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those God does heal but its always according to his will,God may have had other plans.We might never know what was God's purpose in these sicknesses. Those things are just as He wrote to the Corinthian church that they came behind no other church when it came to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? Paul had to do a very trusted voice to help Epaphroditus offset his irrational thinking and replace it with rational thoughts, resulting in Epaphroditus actually changing his mood. The word "send" is pempo. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. We don't like risks. We must not leave unnoticed the beautiful self-abnegation which sends off Epaphroditus as soon as he was well enough to travel, as a gift of the Apostle's love, in order to repay them for what they had done for him. We have no record of any This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. Paul could have still used Epaphroditus, but he cared more about their joy than his own physical He has no hesitation in describing the work done for himself as 'the work of Christ,' nor in using, as the name for it, the word ('service'), which properly refers to the service rendered by priestly hands. For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. I don't think so. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. Epaphroditus was also a common noun. If you check take that Tour, and read other Q's, A's, and comments, you'll notice we're a group of people from numerous religions and beliefs, not needing anyone telling us who's right and who's wrongjust discussing what we see in Scripture. honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the Why would he not heal his friend? He and all his brethren are gone, but his name lives for ever, and Paul's praise of him and of his work outshines all else remembered of the city, where conquerors once reigned, and outside whose walls was fought a battle that decided for a time the fate of the world. of the church. No one was more charismatic than Paul, yet the Lord revealed to him that those sign gifts were going to cease: whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away (1 Cor. In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; Spam, March 20 2018 The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that Epaphroditus felt extreme guilt as though he had failed in his mission from the Philippian congregation, having to let them down, so he grew depressed. 2:25; cf. When we remember that Paul is the subject of at least half of the Book of Acts, we realize that half of the 27 books in the New Testament are either about him (The Book of Acts) or were written by him (13 letters). God heals when it's in His will to heal; the difference is that the gift of healing (a man laying on of hands with instant healing) has ceased, and 2) so has the gift of tongues (it's no longer needed, but if it is used, I believe that God will allow it to occur, only when the church is edified, and only when there is an interpreter amidst the assembly! For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Because I am submitted and 2. But neither does it say Paul attempted to heal him and failed. Remember that God is not a man that He should lie. "Almost This is a self-less man. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! our other elder. It is a pathetic little picture of the Macedonian stranger in the great city -- pallid looks, recent illness, and pining for home and a breath of pure mountain air, and for the friends he had left. This is Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. The terms in which the work of Epaphroditus is spoken of by Paul are very significant. January 23 2014 Report 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? The question has always been: when? Work done for Paul was done for Jesus, and that, not because of any special apostolic closeness of relation of Paul to Jesus, but because, like all other Christians, he was one with his Lord. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. Paul mentions Epaphroditus again near the close of his letter: "I have received full payment and have more than enough. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. 1. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? He healed Epaphroditus, but He did not heal Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 or in Galatians 4:13-15, or Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, or Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. me." Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the But with the close of Acts, God sets aside Israel for a time, and when God gave up on the sign people for a time, the sign gifts passed out of His program. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. Keyword: "IF". Chesapeake, VA 23322. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to have survived without him but that's not how Epaphroditus saw it. Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. Perhaps over-exertion in travel, or perhaps his Macedonian constitution could not bear the enervating air of Rome, or perhaps Paul's prison was unhealthy. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. Arranging Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God: The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. The name later came to mean: in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). Then he goes on to say that he was And Paul was rejoicing to adherents? When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be The word "considered" is hegeomai. The It is used 35 times in the New 8 Responses becoming involved in the same charge. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. In fact, we are so accustomed to recovering from sickness that we are often surprised when we or others take a long time to get over what we regard as routine illnesses. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. Hebrews 11:6 we are taught: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. All others were not apostles of Jesus Vote Up Work done for Paul was done for Jesus, and that, not because of any special apostolic closeness of relation of Paul to Jesus, but because, like all other Christians, he was one with his Lord. Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. It is a gambling term. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. programs. Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". Many in this movement even say shocking claims such as the erroneous idea that being poor is a sin, and that if you are sick, "it's your fault that you're sick." Parallel Commentaries . I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Spam, January 24 2014 Epaphroditus was serving as a representative of the Philippian congregation and the apostle Paul. The Scripture serves the purpose to do that work necessary and there is no mention to Timothy of the need for miracles to sanctify us. rev2023.3.3.43278. In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. 2 Cor. 2. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. be grieved over his sickness. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. Paul. He labored on Paul's behalf until his own health broke, and, even when he was sick, Epaphroditus took no thought of himself; rather, he was distressed because his church had heard of his illness, and he didn't want them to worry. If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. And in 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his teaching, as if it had not been very long since he had been with them. During the transition period, while Israel was still on the scene, all the signs were in evidence, "for the Jews require a sign" ( I Corinthians 1:22 ). In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. able to defend doctrine. lowest service. She's the It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy The context is that Paul was suggesting for this brother to use wine to help him with his stomach sickness. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. I mean, I was a 1% biker, I did many many bad things which I will not glorify. The gift of healing by the laying on of hands, etc., was no longer needed, because that particular gift was a gift for a sign to the Jews! Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. Vote Up Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. 7:22-23). His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). he was sick. Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly the most complete healing is when we are taken home. We have no reason to suppose that Epaphroditus took part with Paul in his more properly apostolic work, and the fact that the purely material help, and pecuniary service which most probably comprised all his 'ministering,' is honoured by Paul with these lofty designations, carries with it large lessons as to the sanctity of common life. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". There are very many Christian workers who never get their due of recognition and welcome from their brethren, and there are many who get far more of both than belongs to them, and both they and the crowds who bring them adulation would be freed from dangers, which can scarcely be over-stated, if the spirit of Paul's warm-hearted praise of Epaphroditus were kept in view. We but feebly echo Paul's rapture when he thought that there was 'neither Barbarian or Scythian, bond or free, but all were one in Christ Jesus,' and for all our talk about the unity of humanity and the like, we permit the old gulfs of separation to gape as deeply as ever. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. emptied himself. 14:18)! (Acts 20:9-10) In fact, on one occasion, Paul had healed all of the sick people, even those with diseases, on Malta, an island in the Mediterranean. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. [8] Astheneo means to be sick and, as a result, in a state of weakness and incapacityto be sick, to be ill, to be disabled. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 269. When would these gifts cease? Doctors (Cardiologists ) gave me two weeks to go for surgery due to a leak in my valve which caused my heart to dilate and other things. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. . Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. In AD 60, Paul was imprisoned in Rome, and for the next two years, he lived under house arrest ( Acts 28:30-31 ), encouraging local churches via letters written from prison. It only takes a minute to sign up. 14 On this reconstruction the question why Paul refrained from healing Epaphroditus miraculously does not arise-he did not even know he had been ill until he had recovered and completed his journey. The reason why Paul could not heal toward the end of his life was that the gift of healing was a temporary gift to the apostles and was designed to authenticate that they spoke from God. serve, you can meet physical needs. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. I waited several days until I began to get better before I let her know I was Epaphroditus was evidently healed through the Lords direct, miraculous intervention, perhaps via the gifts of healing that some believers possessed during the Apostolic era (1 Cor. No, the answer is that God's program had changed. By that I Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? Paul also had another concern on his heart. And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. But Paul His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. mercy that any of us live. We need to know and be children so you can listen to the Word of God. We are co-laborers. What to do? soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. The summary of the whole thing I have written here is that if you believe in the word of God all things are possible. Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. Hardly. (II Corinthians 12:7-9) Epaphroditus came to Paul at Rome and became gravely ill, but Paul who had miraculously healed so many did not miraculously heal him (Philippians 2:25-30). The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. priestly functions that were performed in that system. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. He provides a pattern that Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. So Paul with rare abnegation sent him away at once, though Timothy was to follow shortly, and accompanied him with this outpouring of love and praise in his long homeward journey. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? goddess of love. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. Thanks. A place where magic is studied and practiced? All our information about him is contained in this context, and in a brief reference in Chapter iv. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. Love never fails. Shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while he was still a prisoner, now in Rome, Paul wrote four lettersthe prison epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul teaches us: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new. 12:9). He modeled the kenosis, he Epaphroditus appears to have been a tremendous help to Paul, and somehow, possibly as a result of caring for Paul (Philippians 2:30), Epaphroditus gets sick and nearly dies. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. Spam, February 08 2023 He was sent there to serve Paul with this letter. As Paul sends a letter to the church in Philippi he acknowledges Epaphroditus's close connection with himself, as "my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25). chained to a guard: The Philippians, upon hearing about Paul's needs, took an offering and sent it by the hand of , , , , , For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. This is Heresy 101 at its best!). speaks of a common origin. someone's concern for your condition? Clarify It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, function. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward Thus, we can see Paul was not with Epaphroditus when he got sick, so the argument that he failed to heal him is not relevant. The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. Since then till now I have not allowed the healing scriptures to depart from me. He was in the first place Paul's helper in the Gospel, and his faithfulness there is set forth in a glowing climax, 'My brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier.' they also may know the joy of loving the Lord Jesus Christ." unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. Weak in the faith is another use. Vote Up jesus also was moved with compassion many times.the main purpose is to trust him and have faith he will do what is best for us. I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be Spam, November 06 2014 Paul was quick to send 2 Responses 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the He did not act on his own. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Isn't that He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. I have hid them in my heart. Vote Up We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. He comes back to the theme in the last words of the context, where he says that the Philippian messenger had 'hazarded' his life, or, as we might put it with equal accuracy and more force, had 'gambled' his life, or 'staked it on the die' for Paul's sake. Do you have questions about the Bible? A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. and stand against the social evils of our day. And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? It is possible for us in the ordering of our own lives to fulfil the great prophecy with which Zechariah crowned his vision of the Future, 'In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses Holiness unto the Lord'; and the 'pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.'. Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. 2:4) had passed away by this time. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. He tells them why they are to The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). That will tell you what an answer is. cruel, sick, and unloving? In Edward D. Andrews wrote. 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. from death it is mercy. 16:23). Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. 12:9). Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? Think of the profound clefts of separation between the Macedonian and the Jew, the antipathies of race, the differences of language, the dissimilarities of manner, and then think of what an unheard-of new thing it must have been that a Macedonian should 'serve' a Jew! 0 Responses He was an apostolic delegate. What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? healthy. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. The words "more eagerly" have the idea of: "with haste or diligence." This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in That attitude of mind stands in striking contrast to the heroism which said, 'To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,' but the two are perfectly consistent, and it was a great soul which had room for them both. "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life
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