Paul was experiencing “Epaphroditus anxiety” — he was anxious that the Philippians might be distressed because this faithful brother was ill. Paul wants to reassure them about him.
[This discussion can be read aloud in less than 8 min.]
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 61
Family Discussions for the New Year
*For a menu of all days, click here.
DAY 61/THURSDAY
Philippians 2:25-30
Epaphroditus Anxiety
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.”
Philippians 2:25-30 (NIV)
*Click here to read in the NLT, CSB, & ESV.
Facts about Epaphroditus
- Brother-in-Christ
- Paul’s co-worker & fellow soldier for the Gospel
- The messenger to Paul from the Philippian church
Q & A
Q: Why did the Philippians send Epaphroditus?
A: The Philippian believers sent him to take care of Paul’s needs.
Q: How did Epaphroditus feel about his Philippian church family?
A: He longed for all of them.
Q: Why was Epaphroditus distressed?
A: He was distressed because they heard he was ill.
About E.’s Illness
“Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.”
Philippians 2:27 (NIV)
Q & A 2
Q: How ill had Epaphroditus been?
A: So ill that he almost died
Q: How was Epaphroditus kept from dying?
A: “God had mercy on him”
Q: Why does Paul say God also had mercy on him?
A: If E. had died, Paul would have experienced “sorrow upon sorrow.”
We are not told exactly how God kept Epaphroditus from dying. I think it’s safe to assume Paul did not heal him, or he would probably would have mentioned that; however, we don’t know for sure.
There are some who may say Epaphroditus didn’t die because he had so much faith, or because Paul had so much faith & healing ability. This type of thinking is wrong & unbiblical. Below are a few Scriptures that come to mind which show this to be the case.
Faith always yields healing? Umm…
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
Acts 19:11-12 (NIV)
Paul did, in fact, heal many, many people. Like Jesus, he didn’t even have to be present with them to heal them! And yet, Paul did not heal every sick person he knew.
“Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.”
II Timothy 4:20 (NIV)
Trophimus was an Ephesian and a traveling companion of Paul’s (Acts 20:4, 21:29). Why would Paul leave Trophimus “sick in Miletus” if he could heal anyone, anytime, anywhere with enough faith? I like the way The ESV Study Bible puts it:
“Even Paul, with his apostolic gifts, was not always empowered to heal. Christians today should pray earnestly for physical healing, but God is still sovereign in whether He grants healing in each specific case.”
The ESV Study Bible, p.2343 (2016 text edition)
God’s Plan vs. Man’s
Many people are partial to Romans 8:28 (including me!):
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
God does work for the good “in all things.” Sometimes those things are tough, as in Joseph’s case.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
And Paul, even though he had healed many others by the power of the Holy Spirit, could not heal himself of “a thorn” in his side.
Paul’s Thorn
“…I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.”
II Corinthians 12:7,8 (NIV)
Whatever the “thorn” was, it tormented Paul. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times for it to be taken away — the answer was “No.”
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
II Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
God grants healing according to His plan; He also withholds healing according to His plan. Since He is the only One who is omniscient (has all knowledge), His plan is made with all the information!
In Paul’s case, the Lord said, “No,” to healing his “thorn,” but “Yes” to healing Epaphroditus when he was on the verge of death. Healing is about faith and God’s good plan.
Epaphroditus Anxiety
“Therefore I am all the more eager to send him (Epaphroditus), so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.”
Philippians 2:28-30 (NIV)
Paul was anxious because Epaphroditus was distressed that the Philippian church might be anxious about their beloved brother E.’s illness. (Whew! 🙂 ) Have you ever heard about the recovery of a sick loved one but didn’t really feel relieved until you saw them in person? I imagine that could be the situation here.
Q & A 3
Q: How did Paul say the Philippians should welcome Epaphroditus?
A: “in the Lord with great joy”
Q: Paul also said they should “honor people like him.” Why?
A: “because he almost died for the work of Christ”
| A good question to ask ourselves: Are we prepared to risk our lives for our faith? |
The Help They Could Not Give
“He (Epaphroditus) risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.”
Philippians 2:30b (NIV)
We get more details about this “help” in Philippians 4.
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it…
14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:10,14-19 (NIV)
The Philippian church did help Paul, but they couldn’t do it “themselves” — they sent Epaphroditus.
The help was practical in nature rather than strictly spiritual. I know I tend to emphasize the spiritual side of things in my posts, but tangible, practical, physical help can also be considered “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” worth someone — like Epaphroditus — risking his life to provide.
The problem comes when we only concern ourselves with one or the other, spiritual or physical, eternal or temporal. In this case, and is the correct conjunction! We should support our fellow believers in physical and spiritual ways.
Let us pray.
DAY 61/THURSDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word.
Lord, when our fellow believers have needs, whether spiritual or physical, may our hearts be moved with compassion and our minds & bodies to action! Let us not be those who are “too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good” nor “too earthly-minded to be any heavenly good.”
On questions about faith & healing, bless us with clarity. Let us not be led astray by those who twist Your words. Instead, may we trust You & Your plan above all others, knowing You are not only all-knowing, but also perfectly holy, good, & loving.
We love You! Thank You for first loving us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
DAY 61: The Philippians were possibly suffering from "Epaphroditus Anxiety" -- concern for their sick friend who had been sent to aid the apostle Paul.