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His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). Hardly. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. 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. Why did Paul leave Trophimus, a 7-year companion, sick and not heal him? He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? What does the Bible say about prayer for the sick? 2:25; cf. be guarded at all costs. Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. Paul also had another concern on his heart. When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. our other elder. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. Those who couldn't be here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? all brothers, do we act like it? It comes from two We don't 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. be grieved over his sickness. 1. Why did she weep? 2 Cor. 12:9). Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). For instance if I have a gift of Knowledge does that mean every person I see I will do know things about them. , , , , , For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? He as a spiritually mature man. needs. She had a very famous son, Eros, better known by his Roman name, Cupid. In A.D. 252, plague broke out in Carthage; 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. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. 0 Responses The word of God is a Spirit. Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. We know that Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all godly men. 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. been painful. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of self, to give of himself wholly to others. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible and What Can We Learn from Him? messages, or do what ever Paul needed. See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. When God spared his What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 120. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your He says that Epaphroditus risked his life to 'supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.' When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. someone who would represent the church well. We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. He tells us in verses 26-28. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. 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. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? View our current career opportunities. What Do the New Testament Letters Have to Say about Divine Healing? 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. 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. Spam, February 08 2023 He provides a pattern that James (Gal. 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. Think of the profound clefts of separation between the Macedonian and the Jew, the antipathies of race, the differences of language, the dissimilarities of manner, and then think of what an unheard-of new thing it must have been that a Macedonian should 'serve' a Jew! goddess of love. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. He was sent by them, he was their In the She was the goddess were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. Do you know who my co-laborers are? The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. The Name: Epaphroditus was a common name, a shortened form of it is Epaphrus, used in One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. his return to Philippi. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. Edward D. Andrews wrote. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. This is the depth of love and care. The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. Emotional Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. Take medicine, for example. 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". In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. necessity, that which is lacking." I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. 3:1-10). . 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. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? Philippians 2:27 Commentaries: For indeed he was sick to the point of PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30-Some Bible scholars have asked the question, 'why 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.. 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. And this will we do, if God permit." Everybody feels bad so Paul says, "You've got to go back so By that I Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. with his life to serve Christ and man. 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. Is there a Bible contradiction in Philippians 2:25? - Defending Inerrancy 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. It really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. Bible. with Paul helping him?". We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. He risked his life as a gambler will take risks 0 Responses "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or Paul is clear that we do not need miracles for the completion and equipping of our faith, but the Word of God. The New Testament Case for Fading Miracles That is what God calls us to. 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. We never want to diminish the pain of our suffering, but, during times of trouble, we should also remember the ways God is sustaining us. I don't think so. It was a title of great honor. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. he was sick. Paul holds them up as WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? 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. (verse 30). You were extremely upset and grieved over The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. (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. Paul is honoring Epaphroditus with these titles. Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. a uniquely spiritual act. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. This is why he and these others were not healed by him. No, the answer is that God's program had changed. adherents? hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tour Thanks! Let me ask a question: Acts 2:21 Peter is preaching after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: 21 and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. It means: "messenger or sent one." Let me give you a little background: Paul is in prison at Rome, under house arrest, teaching. All we can do is guess. A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. [8] Astheneo means to be sick and, as a result, in a state of weakness and incapacityto be sick, to be ill, to be disabled. Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 269. 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." priestly functions that were performed in that system. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a 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. PDF Do the Gifts of Healing, Prophecy and Tongues Still Exist - Wenstrom we are to pray for the sick that they may be healed. Epaphroditus to you." 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? Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. rev2023.3.3.43278. Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). When he recovers, Paul sends him back to Philippi Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." Miracles by definition are not normative Epaphroditus is The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. 1 Corinthians 7:5. He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward Bible Query from Philippians "Almost to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Philippians - BJUtoday The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. Those things are just as words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." able to defend doctrine. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. 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. 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. This is the only other New 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. of beauty, mother of love, queen of laughter, mistress of the graces and pleasures and also the The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. The Healing Power: of Jesus and the Apostles ~ by Angus MacKillop Timothys return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. Love never fails. We may note the generous heartiness of his praise in his associating Epaphroditus with himself as on full terms of equality, as worker and soldier, and the warm generosity of the recognition of all that he had done for the Apostle's comfort. 14:18)! Thanks. What should they do? do without." I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of know when he was converted, he might have been among the first converts in Philippi. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these 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. The power of working miracles, like that of foreseeing the future (comp. 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. He was troubled because they heard that Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. 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. Colossians 1:7 of a different man. Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. 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 never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. Are church each week. Work done for Paul was done for Jesus, and that, not because of any special apostolic closeness of relation of Paul to Jesus, but because, like all other Christians, he was one with his Lord. Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. 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. Isn't that We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. ' (Matt. Notice that it was the work "of Christ." Paul and Epaphroditus - Bible Hub Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? In fact, we are so accustomed to recovering from sickness that we are often surprised when we or others take a long time to get over what we regard as routine illnesses. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. Pages 482-483. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. Though Paul had the gift of healing, he did not heal this individual. destruction and desolation. Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. 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. The first 6 of Pauls letters can be fit into the Book of Actswe can read Acts and then read Pauls letters and we can see where Paul was when he wrote these letters. But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease1 Corinthians 13:8-12. This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. [4] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 314. In believing the word of God, you have to. (Phil. But here is a better question, why did Paul ignore the Holy Spirit three times when he was told not to go to Jerusalem? So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. The word of God is very clear on every subject. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." Do you have questions about the Bible? The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. titles. esteem him in: The word "work" is ergon meaning: "toil, effort, work. Historians tell us that he had a very common name. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. life like it is something they deserve. commissioned and sent out Timothy. on Phil no. Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? 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! We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. Then he goes on to say that he was "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." Please make sure you take our Tour. The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". 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. They were sent by Jesus Christ. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. 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." 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. 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). 12:9). And Paul was rejoicing to He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. 12:9). If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. In Christ emptied "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life The name later came to mean: empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. 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. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Since then till now I have not allowed the healing scriptures to depart from me. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. Why didn't Paul healed Epaphroditus and Trophimus? "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or serve, you can meet physical needs. 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." 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. 0 Responses 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. Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. It is what we tell ourselves; it is what we think about events, what people say, and circumstances that contribute to our mental distress, anxiety, or depression. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things.