12:9). It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). Why would he not heal his friend? with this letter. 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. I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 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.. Why didn't Paul healed Epaphroditus and Trophimus? The word "receive" means: "to receive to one's self. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the 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. It is a compound word from 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. 14:30-33). The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? 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 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! We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. becoming involved in the same charge. Paul was quick to send Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. We are co-laborers. We have no record of any Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Spam, March 31 2022 Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. 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 ). (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. to meet someone's need? 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. The word "considered" is hegeomai. 2. Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with self, to give of himself wholly to others. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. theological term "kenosis.". have survived without him but that's not how Epaphroditus saw it. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. Everybody feels bad so Paul says, "You've got to go back so 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. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? Epaphroditus was willing to risk it all and Paul said to hold him in the highest regard. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a (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). "Epaphroditus is here to do what you can't do because you're so far away.". here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the 2:25; cf. The first fact about him is, that he was one of the Philippian Christians, and sent by them to Rome, with some pecuniary or material help, such as comforts for Paul's prison-house, food, clothing, or money. This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. It does not contain doubt, but refers to a decision arrived Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testamentfrom the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. his return to Philippi. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. We are to fear God and Him alone. I subscribe to the view that the reason is because the gifts that he was performing in the early days was a "sign to the Jews"; not all spiritual gifts are still in operation today; or, they aren't necessarily "needed." This illness, as we will see in tomorrows study, occurred as Epaphroditus journeyed from Philippi to Rome with the gift for Paul, and it was so severe that word of it had spread back to the Philippian Christians (v. 26). He was sent by them, he was their Chesapeake, VA 23322. "Almost 0 Responses The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. Vote Up Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. to worry about me. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." Epaphroditus: A Gambling Veteran - Associates for Biblical Research He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. No! mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? with Paul helping him?". He tells them why they are to He speaks of Epaphroditus' recovery as a mercy to himself 'lest he should have the sorrow of imprisonment increased by the sorrow of his friend's death.' The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Thanks for listening. This word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ If Epaphroditus were 'received in the Lord,' there would be no foolish and hurtful adulation of him, nor prostration before him, but he would be recognised as but the instrument through which the true Helper worked, and not he, but the Grace of Christ in him would finally receive the praise. And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. commissioned and sent out Timothy. back" but "send." When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. 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. James (Gal. The fact that ancient people rarely recovered from serious illnesses and the Apostles specific language in Philippians 2:27 indicate that he is talking about more than just a providential answer to prayer. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. The Name: Epaphroditus was a common name, a shortened form of it is Epaphrus, used in Pages 482-483. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. die!" 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. 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. Bible. This is because the word of God is living and active. Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. 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. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. They sent him money to meet his physical needs. There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. Hardly. The principle here is that "God exalts the humble." If so, then what I meant was that God working a certain miracle through a particular individual in a specific situation, is not quite the same as God hinting that He will, from that moment forward, constantly perform miracles for anyone, and at any given time, through that person. 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. We both received mercy. In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it do without." hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tour Thanks! She's the Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. titles. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. 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. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. Epaphrodtus. Isn't that In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. Epaphroditus was not distressed, i.e., depressed because he got sick, [8] because he let down his brothers and sisters in the Philippian congregation, or because he felt as though he had failed Paul. we are all from the same womb, we're family. Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. He didn't want them to Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. Meet Epaphroditus - A True Friend to the Apostle Paul 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. 11 God was performing extraordinary [e]miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. is not an official title. me." 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. Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. What contributes to mental and spiritual anguish? When Did the Gift of Tongues Cease? | Berean Bible Society Why Did the Philippians Send Paul a Gift? | Zondervan Academic June 11th 2000, I came to the Lord, He healed me of lung cancer, irreversible nerve damage caused by my lifestyle and replaced 3 discs in my lower back that were gone: vertebra rubbing vertebra. View our current career opportunities. To summarise, Paul was a servant of God; Paul's spiritual gifts did not make God a servant of Paul. Literally this is "wave after wave of grief.". Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. 12:9). In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? 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. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be 1:4). Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? 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. All through the Book of Acts Paul had only gnosis, partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word epignosishe had now received that full knowledge which he didnt have when he wrote to the Corinthians: For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (Col. 2:1-2). spiritual as teaching. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend But he suns himself in the thought of the Philippians' joy, and in the hope that some reflection of it will travel across the seas to him, and make him, if not wholly glad, at any rate 'the less sorrowful.'. himself and God exalted him. Look at the rest of the verse: "was Love never fails. The Severity of Epaphroditus' Illness | Reformed Bible Studies It is used 35 times in the New Spam, April 05 2022 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. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? [7] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Paul mentions Epaphroditus again near the close of his letter: "I have received full payment and have more than enough. healthy. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. If we are going to 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. God owes us nothing! 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. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 0 Responses 1:2) and Titus (Tit. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992). The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. and thine often infirmities. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. How this happened or what his sickness was No, the answer is that God's program had changed.