However, God, who can do things as He chooses, chose not to immediately heal Epaphroditus. Those who couldn't be Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. A place where magic is studied and practiced? Vote Up They were to receive him "in the Lord." 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. 2 Cor. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? 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. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. She's the In believing the word of God, you have to. The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want Epaphroditus is I don't think so. Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. "Almost For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. For some, Pauls instructions to the prophets at Corinth will be pertinent: If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 3:1-10). There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts. He is saying, The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. This word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ 2:25-30). Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. (Phil. They are spiritual, priestly functions. (2 Timothy 4:20), The power to heal was present in Paul's ministry as described in the book of Acts, 8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mothers womb, who had never walked. somebody around an AIDS patient? would have been sorrow upon sorrow. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts. be grieved over his sickness. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send 12:9). 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. others. Spam, January 24 2014 guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. James put We are co-laborers. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? feel bad because he is sick. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? It is a gambling term. that Paul didn't heal. "lovely or charming." 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). He heals according to His will today. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. sisters in Christ in other countries. 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. unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, Paul could have still used Epaphroditus, but he cared more about their joy than his own physical It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. He was Paul's fellow laborer. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. 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. 4: 19 . It In the average person can relate 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. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. That will tell you what an answer is. we living as sent ones? and thine often infirmities. John 1:12 ). Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at 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. There would be many ways of serving the captive, looking after his comfort, doing his errands, procuring daily necessaries, managing affairs, perhaps writing his letters, easing his chain, chafing his aching wrists, and ministering in a thousand ways which we cannot and need not specify. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". 1:11,12) that a time was coming when these sign gifts were going to cease to operate. Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased. Answer (1 of 9): EPAPHRODITUS [handsome, charming]. 8 Responses distressed because you had heard that he was sick." When I was in the military I met brothers and to worry about me. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. This isn't to say that God doesn't or won't heal today, because this is obviously not true, but the "laying on of hands" by a man (as a 'gift') has all but ceased, and yet there are still 'healing teachers' out there in the world today teaching a false gospel, having "healing revivals" that come to nought, etc. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. 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. Please make sure you take our Tour. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be [f]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up and began to walk. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. What should they do? We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. Have you ever watched In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for This is Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). Paul would That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. his return to Philippi. It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to The terms in which the work of Epaphroditus is spoken of by Paul are very significant. Vote Up When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! He did not act on his own. He didn't want them to [7] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. What is a word for the arcane equivalent of a monastery? 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. He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Thanks. 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. Bible scholar J. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. Look at the rest of the verse: "was It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy Those things are just as 14:18)! Take medicine, for example. himself and God exalted him. 1 Corinthians 7:5. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). for a possible gain. But, what happened? Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. What needless sorrows follow in the Continue Reading, (The following is the first of a series of articles drawn from Pastor Stam's book, Our Great Commission, What Is It? 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. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. back" but "send." All the loving thoughts, and all the material expressions of them which Epaphroditus brought to Paul were fragrant with the perfume of the Philippians' love, 'an odour of a sweet smell, acceptable' to Paul as to Paul's Lord. Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. But Paul sorrow." January 23 2014 Report Clarify I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. He is mentioned nowhere else in the Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? B. theological term "kenosis.". Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. Today God no longer gives the gift of healing, and there are no healers. But we should not think that God Himself no longer heals! Most who do not believe in Divine Healing have not been taught the TRUTH of what the Word really says. needs. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. We are to We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. involved in. How this happened or what his sickness was Chesapeake, VA 23322. Hardly. 0 Responses The word of God is God. If we are going to 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. 3. ESV - What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. The Apostolic Gifts are no longer in operation today: 1) Laying on of hands to heal someone (if this were still the case, then people could walk into nursing homes and hospitals and begin healing people left-and-right, but this doesn't happen. Testament use of this word. needs. cruel, sick, and unloving? He re-introduces Epaphroditus to them as someone who had risked his own life for the sake of others, even "to the point of death". of the church. What to do? We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble Paul holds them up as Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? 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. A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. Then he goes on to say that he was . Literally this is "wave after wave of grief.". No! that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every . 1:7)no church had more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than the Corinthian church, yet Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. Epaphroditus loved the Philippians, who he was representing, and Paul, who he was ministering It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi know when he was converted, he might have been among the first converts in Philippi. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. If you haven't already, please make sure to take our tour, to get yourself familiar with the site and to see how we're a little different than other sites. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. But the promise that He gave to Paul is still our promise today in the dispensation of grace: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. Spam, January 22 2014 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]. Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your Because I am submitted and 2. 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. 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. We don't like risks. him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. Emotional to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? be guarded at all costs. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. He was highly regarded by the church there. life, it was mercy to me. Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. Why would the Apostle Paul insist that married couples have regular sex "except [for one reason only] by mutual consent and for a time (of prayer)" when there may be other factors such as sickness, busyness, or fatigue? Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. A man who never opens his lips but to censure or criticise, who fastens on faults as wasps do on blemished fruit, will never be surrounded by loyal love. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? 2:27). In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. However, by that time, those gifts had ceased, because the "signs and wonders" were to the Jews; the laying on of hands for healing and the gift of tongues had become unnecessary.