Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. 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. God's sparing of Epaphroditus' life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. It appears my previous comment has been deleted, no explanation why. and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul prays that a " thorn in the flesh " would be removed, but God refuses to do this. Vote Up Those who couldn't be We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. (Many of these 'teachers' are a part of the 'Word of Faith' movement, the Properity Gospel crowd, et al, that teach that positive confession is necessary for having what you want or "claim," and they teach that if you do not get healed, or if you get sick or have any sort of malady, this means that you don't "have enough faith." Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. He has authored ninety-five books. 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. 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. and thine often infirmities. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. himself." Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. >From this verb we get the 3:1-10). [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. 11:14). In that he had heard about the seeds of division that had been planted in the church at Philippi. Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). He is saying, 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. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. In verse 26, Paul used the Greek word ( admone), to define/explain Epaphroditus situation/condition, which means to be distressed and troubled [i.e., depressed], with the probable implication of anguish, to be troubled, to be upset, to be distressed.[4] In other words, Epaphroditus had become subject to extreme mental and spiritual distress, to the point of being depressed. emptied himself. two to his relationship with the Philippian church. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 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. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. 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! When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Bible scholar J. Are The answer is: He wouldn't have! The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. 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! 0 Responses It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. Hardly. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. 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). They were to receive him "in the Lord." Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." . Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. 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. The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. I mean, I was a 1% biker, I did many many bad things which I will not glorify. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. He risked his life as a gambler will take risks Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." The word of God is God. 2:25-30). Of note: Reference Hebrews 6:2-3 which says: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. Remember that God is not a man that He should lie. Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). (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. 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. 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. Why did she weep? Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. life like it is something they deserve. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at However, God, who can do things as He chooses, chose not to immediately heal Epaphroditus. The context gives us an interesting miniature of the last, and pathetic glimpses into the private life of the Apostle in his imprisonment, and it is worth our while to try to bring our historic imagination to bear on Epaphroditus, and to make him a living man. ' (Matt. He tells us in verses 26-28. Epaphroditus but passes across the illuminated disc of the lantern for a moment, and we have scarcely time to catch a glimpse of his face before it is lost to us. Because the tomb was empty! "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. 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. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. This . the proclamation of the gospel effective. Is there a solutiuon to add special characters from software and how to do it, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. 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 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. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. 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. The gift of tongues, prophecy and knowledge during the Acts period were only in partthey were incomplete, they did not communicate the full knowledge that the Lord had to reveal. It is a gambling term. Thanks. The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians This is a self-less man. As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. 8 Responses Paul merely needed to help Epaphroditus to locate the negative thoughts he was having about his being sick, his feeling as though he let the Philippians down, or his feeling as though he had failed Paul. The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future. We are to be working to He was Paul's fellow laborer. (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). statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. Spam, March 31 2022 He did not act on his own. What Is the Difference Between 'Man' And 'Son of Man' in Num 23:19? A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. It is not confined to The miracles of healing that the This is Have you taken the tour of our site yet? We are Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. Epaphroditus lived out Philippians 2:1-16, he is the "Loving Gambler.". He heals according to His will today. When God spared his Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? Some people talk about health and 19:28). We selfishly clutch life and guard our own interests when the mind of Christ is to be selfless and Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a 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.' same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. 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). ), [6] MM J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London, 191429). No! He was the, "Loving Gambler.". He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). We need to meet people's needs "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. be grieved over his sickness. children so you can listen to the Word of God. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. (Phil. She was the goddess It is not "send There was no reliable way of getting these to Paul but to take them, and so Epaphroditus faced the long journey across Greece to Brindisi and Rome, and when arrived there threw himself with ardour into serving Paul. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 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. 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.. financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry 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. 2. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. me." ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death sacrificial life. 3. Then he goes on to say that he was If he is so valuable, why We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. 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. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry messages, or do what ever Paul needed. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. sadness. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. 12:9). Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. Paul uses this as a term of affection. The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. 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. 16:23). No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. 2:25; cf. Thanks. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would. In fact, he would have probably sent a handkerchief or even went to him, personally, if possible, and laid hands on him and healed him instantly. Philippians had heard that he was sick. 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 ). Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. spiritual as teaching. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. God healed me of heart disease. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. Theyve been taught that a person has to speak in tongues to prove that he is really saved, or that he really has the Holy Spirit dwelling within. 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. Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. 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. The word of God is very clear on every subject. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. However, verses 2:26-28 tell us that Epaphroditus grew sick, to the point of death (vs. 27), while he was on his way to Rome. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. He was troubled because they heard that Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). This is Heresy 101 at its best!). messages that he preached. 13:8).1. Vote Up 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. Because I am submitted and 2. This may be the most important message you ever read. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. Paul. word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". Pauls letters are arranged in our Bible by two principles: The letters to the churches are put firstnine letters from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, then the four letters written to individualsfrom 1 Timothy to Philemon. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their meeting their needs. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? titles. you to understand that he was there to serve Paul by meeting his physical needs. This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a The word of God is a Spirit. 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. Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. They were sent by Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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). mercy that any of us live. 2 Cor. 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. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. 1 Corinthians 7:5. others. I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be

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