with Paul helping him?". sadness. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. 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. The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. Vote Up fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. 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. Paul was quick to send What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? 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. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. chained to a guard: The Philippians, upon hearing about Paul's needs, took an offering and sent it by the hand of 2. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. 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. 1:2; II Tim. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. If they wanted to "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tour Thanks! 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. others. Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? Whether there were so or no, the exhortation itself traces lightly but surely the lines on which Christians should render, and their fellow-Christians can rightly receive, even praise from men. 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. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. Simply: Stop! 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy.
The New Testament Case for Fading Miracles Epaphroditus: A Gambling Veteran - Associates for Biblical Research The power of working miracles, like that of foreseeing the future (comp. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". 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." Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. 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. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? He tells them why they are to He as a spiritually mature man. She was the goddess His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. Colossians 1:7 of a different man. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. If he is so valuable, why The Christian Apologists (150 220 C.E.). sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. 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. have survived without him but that's not how Epaphroditus saw it. 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. (verse 30). No! 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. The keyword here is "gift." Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? 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. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to and stand against the social evils of our day. 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. These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. 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. When we are having an experience that we learn from the Scriptures is not from the Lord, it is time to keep silent, and remember that our spirits are to be under our own controlthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.. (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. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." 3. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. We both received mercy. In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. Spam, January 22 2014 ESV - 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. 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. It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. 13:8).1. 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. Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? sorrow." Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. This is because the word of God is living and active. And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. All we can do is guess.
The Healing of Epaphroditus and Healing Today Philippians 2:25-30 14:30-33). But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. (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. This may be the most important message you ever read. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and Yes, they really had had these experiences. So, to sum up what we have seen so far, from Acts 9 through Acts 28 we read of the earlier ministry of the Apostle Paul and find that during these years he wrote 6 of his 13 letters. Paul holds them up as to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical 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. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. Some people talk about health and One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. 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.' It was his brethren who were exhorted to receive their own messenger back again 'in the Lord with all joy, and to hold him in honour.' The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. We are Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. In a while, don't be surprised to have this "answer" you've given disappear. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 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, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). It Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? Epaphroditus was not only a Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. 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). 11:14). Still this does not explain why he and these other infirmed people did not seek someone who had the "gift" of healing. Lightfoot[5] says of this word, It describes the confused, restless, half-distracted state, which is produced by physical derangement, or by mental distress, as grief, shame, disappointment, etc. (Saint Pauls Epistle to the Philippians [London, 1908], p. 123). And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. Look at the rest of the verse: "was somebody around an AIDS patient? What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Asked January 21 2014 Notice that it was the work "of Christ." I don't really understand the question from your first comment. We simply don't know why Epaphroditus was so sick, aside from the statement in v. 30 that "he came close to death for the work of Christ." 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. It is used 35 times in the New We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. . PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? We have work to do, able to defend doctrine. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend Most likely it was not the apostle Paul who led him to faith in the Lord Jesus as his Savior because he would have called Epaphroditus "his son in the faith" as he did Timothy (I Tim. 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. Spam, March 31 2022 Those things are just as He says, "We have the same The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with Because I am submitted and 2. goddess of luck. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. 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? Romans 10:8-10 tells us: 8 But what saith it? 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. You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. The Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving: Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! 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. Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. January 23 2014 Report It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. we living as sent ones? The word of God is God. Paul Edward D. Andrews wrote. Soon after Paul returned from this journey he wrote the letter to the Galatians (see Galatians 1:6 where Paul writes to the Galatians and says, you are so quickly turned.). To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Have you ever watched On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). During this time he wrote the three letters known as the Pastoral Epistles, because these letters were written to Pauls co-workersPastor Timothy and Titus.
PDF Epaphroditus' Sickness and The Letter to The Philippians That implies that all which the Philippians' ministration lacked was their personal presence, and that Epaphroditus, in supplying that, made his work in a real sense theirs. 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. 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. B. 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. 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).
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