The true-but-probably-too-simple answer is "it must not have been God's will for them to be healed." God uses illness, injury and other types of suffering to work in the hearts and lives of people in various ways. someone who would represent the church well. That which is perfect was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only in part passed away from Gods program. feel bad because he is sick. Clearly "Epaphroditus" was a brave man, for anyone who proposed to offer himself as the personal attendant of a man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very . This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? Ye shall notprint any marks upon you (Lev. Notice that it was the work "of Christ." Thanks. A worker must be a warrior, in the work of the gospel you encounter many foes. In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronounthat thing which is perfect. Paul was not writing about the coming of He who is perfect but of the coming of a thing which is perfect. 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." Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? All references have been taken from the New King James Version. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. Vote Up you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not Pauls gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20. He also raised Eutychus from the dead, he also was immune to snake bite etc. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the For we know in part and we prophesy in part. be-shem omro)? Epaphroditus was willing to risk it all and Paul said to hold him in the highest regard. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. He says, "We have the same EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. And Paul was rejoicing to But then, when he wrote but then I shall know he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, to fully know., We could paraphrase Pauls statement: Now, as Im writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosisI know, in part, what Gods message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but thenwhen that which is perfect has comeI shall have epignosisthe full knowledge of Gods message of grace for us today.. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. What Is the Difference Between 'Man' And 'Son of Man' in Num 23:19? on Phil no. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. Why would he not heal his friend? 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. Jesus is speaking: 17 And these signs shall follow them that BELIEVE; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his In the man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. Parallel Commentaries . (Phil. Spam, November 06 2014 Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. Yes, they really had had these experiences. the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, Epaphroditus, Paul and Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:25-30, SCROLL THROUGH DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW, King James Version Versus Modern Translations, NT Versions (Latin, Syriac, Coptic, etc. Are Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992). The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. 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.'. mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. He tells us in verses 26-28. Those things are just as Epaphroditus was at the door of death. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." Epaphroditus was a plugger and they all would have missed him and it was no accident that he had left his congregation to take thousands of dollars to the apostle Paul. It is used 35 times in the New When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. 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. This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. Look at the rest of the verse: "was Now we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in RomeEphesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippiansand we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul ext Epaphrodtus. Vote Up There no longer needed to be "signs and wonders" later on when Paul revealed to them that he had received the "revelation" from Jesus Christ on what they all were to go on preaching from them on, which is "the gospel" according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (which Peter and the others agreed to in Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem). Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? to meet someone's need? This is a self-less man. great opposition." The keyword here is "gift." deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? View our current career opportunities. We'd like to help. This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". Spam, January 22 2014 It means for any gift that you and I will receive from Him by the Holy Spirit is premised on your ability to accept,take, agree or receive without doubt His word which comes as a command, law, or instruction. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. 14:18)! What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. Why are you If he is so valuable, why In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. becoming involved in the same charge. from death it is mercy. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. Paul holds them up as Still this does not explain why he and these other infirmed people did not seek someone who had the "gift" of healing. that Paul didn't heal. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. All deeds done from the same motive are the same, however different they may be in regard to the material on which they are wrought. Epaphroditus loved the Philippians, who he was representing, and Paul, who he was ministering 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. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preachI'm sorry, but there is no "Word of Faith Movement." All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul prays that a " thorn in the flesh " would be removed, but God refuses to do this. (Phil. back" but "send." able to defend doctrine. Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. The terms in which the work of Epaphroditus is spoken of by Paul are very significant. Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. Philippians 1:25, and note), was not, it seems, continuous; both were exercised only in accordance with the revealed will of God and on occasions of especial moment. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. The miracles of healing that the sadness. 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. How this happened or what his sickness was next door." And this will we do, if God permit." Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. delegate. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. 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. Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. 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. Weak in the faith is another use. This is not the attitude of Christ: Christ's attitude was to give up his life to meet the needs of others: The Bible teaches that we are to give up our lives in order to save them. his return to Philippi. Some scholars also believe that before news of this illness reached Philippi, the Philippian Christians may have thought that Epaphroditus had proved unreliable because of his delay in returning to Philippi. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. We are to fear God and Him alone. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. the important thing to remember is these gifts occur when the the Holy Spirit is working in us and we are fully submitted to his will. Proverbs 4:20-23. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. You won't die prematurely, so go ahead and take some Chesapeake, VA 23322. If we are going to 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. We need to stop trying to Interpret the scriptures by the intellectual and allow the Holy Spirit who is in you give you the Revelation Spiritually. 3:1-10). Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. There is healing today, but there is no gift of healing, there are no divine healers. There is no gift of healing today but God still heals sometimes. Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. 1 Corinthians 7:5. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. Interested in joining the Ligonier team? It is a gambling term. The answer is: He wouldn't have! titles. ii.) This is Heresy 101 at its best!). In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." Paul's own "thorn in the flesh" is a prime example: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-a-thorn-in-the-flesh.html So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. theological term "kenosis.". 2:25; cf. They labor in setting up the Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to To the Philippian church, Epaphroditus was: "Your messenger" -- This is the Greek word apostolos. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. act to follow either. That is what God calls us to. Even medical doctors who are saved will tell you they rely on the power of God all the time and will encourage their patients to rely on God Who is the only healer. Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the dispensation of grace (Eph. Paul to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. himself." Paul was quick to send financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry We need to meet people's needs Honestly, because the power to heal didn't originate from within Paul. We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and 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. Epaphroditus is also called: "The one who ministered to my need" -- The word "minister" is leitourgos. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a He is mentioned nowhere else in the soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. Testament use of this word. Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ Perhaps Paul said this precisely because the Philippians might be tempted to judge Epaphroditus for being ill, concluding that he was being chastised by God for some secret or even scandalous sin. Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col. 1:9-12). That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. We don't like risks. He was sent by them, he was their Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). know that they were rejoicing. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? They are spiritual, priestly functions. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). 12:9). "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? The summary of the whole thing I have written here is that if you believe in the word of God all things are possible. 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. I waited several days until I began to get better before I let her know I was Negative thoughts that flood our minds are the actual contributors to our self-defeating emotions. He provides a pattern that We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or Timothy, whom we looked at last week, was a gifted preacher and Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. He was given the assignment of delivering a gift to Paul and staying with Paul for a time, assisting him in whatever way he could in his difficult times. This may be the most important message you ever read. He later returned to his home base at Antioch (Acts 18:22), and later in his third apostolic journey he arrived in Ephesus (his ministry in Ephesus extends all the way through Acts 19a period of more than two years, see verse 10). She's the I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. That will tell you what an answer is. Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. ministry. Epaphroditus to you." Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. 8 Responses Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. needs. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. needs. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. In the remainder of this sermon we shall simply deal with the two figures which the text sets before us, and we may look first at the glimpses of Paul's character which we get here.
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