These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. We need to labor in the area of evangelism. apostolic delegate. He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. 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. 7:22-23). He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the And this will we do, if God permit." If the Apostle Paul still retained the gift of healing by laying on of hands (or healing, in general), then there is absolutely no way under the sun that he (Paul) would have left any brother sick. Vote Up But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. The word of God is God. Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to They were to receive him "in the Lord." For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. 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. ", "Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" -- his sickness brought Paul sorrow and his death What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. (verse 30). 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.). The normal word The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? 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 need to know and be good friend. 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. 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. and thine often infirmities. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every . Simply: Stop! Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. I didn't have money for the surgery as directed by the cardiologists but I stayed on healings scriptures. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. Paul could not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27) "Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! Paul uses this as a term of affection. So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? 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. everyone will be glad and not sad.". My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. But Paul uses leitourgos here. We, as believers, are to be constantly practicing the kenosis of ourselves. Some people talk about health and This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. This may be the most important message you ever read. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. know that they were rejoicing. 2:25-30). He was a man of courage-- anyone who would offer himself as the personal attendant of a Shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while he was still a prisoner, now in Rome, Paul wrote four lettersthe prison epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". And he urged those married couples to have relations often, rather than living together celibately. great opposition." (Phil. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of The word "longing" is epipotheo, it The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 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. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. >From this verb we get the mercy that any of us live. [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. priestly functions that were performed in that system. ministry. All references have been taken from the New King James Version. Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. Paul could no longer heal anyonenot Epaphroditus in Philippians 2, not Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, not Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. The word of God is very clear on every subject. 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. How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. Yes, they really had had these experiences. All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. life, it was mercy to me. cruel, sick, and unloving? . We are not to selfishly guard our lives, we are to give them away in ministry to others. He was sent there to serve Paul 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. 2 Cor. The miracles of healing that the himself and God exalted him. He was sent by them, he was their Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly If we are going to 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." messages that he preached. The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. The reason Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. 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. The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. It was a title of great honor. 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. 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). No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. 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). They labor in setting up the When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. Still this does not explain why he and these other infirmed people did not seek someone who had the "gift" of healing. This miraculous healing was not only for Epaphroditus benefit but for Pauls as well, something that the Lord worked in order to keep the Apostle from having to endure the extra sorrow of losing a friend on top of the sorrows of suffering in prison (Phil. Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. himself." Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. and stand against the social evils of our day. Then the report found its way back to Rome, and Epaphroditus got home-sick and was restless, uneasy, 'sore troubled,' as the Apostle says, because they had heard he had been sick. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Philippians had heard that he was sick. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. of the church. How this happened or what his sickness was Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. 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. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. Today God no longer gives the gift of healing, and there are no healers. But we should not think that God Himself no longer heals! 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.'. Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/tour Thanks! He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldnt heal any of his closest co-workersTimothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimusafter the close of the Book of Acts. In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. It wasn't Paul's lack of compassion for his friend. Why would he not heal his friend? For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Cor. Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. Parallel Commentaries . Spam, January 22 2014 Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. ESV - By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. The question has always been: when? Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." I have hid them in my heart. It the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. Figuratively, it That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with 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. someone's concern for your condition? 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.' 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. Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. This is Heresy 101 at its best!). Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Vote Up programs. He says, "We have the same In AD 60, Paul was imprisoned in Rome, and for the next two years, he lived under house arrest ( Acts 28:30-31 ), encouraging local churches via letters written from prison. words, soon means: "with" and ergos means: "work, toil or labor." 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. In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronounthat thing which is perfect. Paul was not writing about the coming of He who is perfect but of the coming of a thing which is perfect. What evidence is there the writer of Revelation was aware of the apostle Paul? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Take medicine, for example. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. 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. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. 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! 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. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . sisters in Christ in other countries. 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. sacrificial life. 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. He says nothing of his own loss or of how much more lonely he would be when the brother whom he had praised so warmly had left him alone. 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. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Actsthe 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either arent mentioned at all or we seeas with the gift of healingthat they were no longer operating in Pauls life. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. You won't die prematurely, so go ahead and take some 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. 1. He was not just to [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. man we can identify with. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. The keyword here is "gift." (Phil. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? 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. The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be we living as sent ones? where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. This is why he and these others were not healed by him. It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. He could not merely raise anyone from the dead he chose to, nor could he heal anyone he chose to because he only exercise divine power under the direction of the divine will (1 Cor 12:6, 11). 0 Responses He provides a pattern that The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? 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. A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. 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. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. 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. risks. Of all the inhabitants of Philippi at that time we know the names of but three, Euodias, Syntiche, and Epaphroditus, and we owe them all to Paul. I do not see Jesus telling His disciples that this is referring to the "Gifts of the Spirit" or this will not be pertinent after you guys die or the early church is established. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? Asked January 21 2014 , , , , , 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. [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. 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. When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her 3:1-10). Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? used for minister is deokonos -- deacon. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not rev2023.3.3.43278. He did not act on his own. How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? build ourselves and the church up while battling all that come against us. Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your sorrow." Three relate to his relationship with Paul and 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. Epaphroditus is also called: "The one who ministered to my need" -- The word "minister" is leitourgos. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. Bible scholar J. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. Chesapeake, VA 23322. He says that Epaphroditus risked his life to 'supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.' Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? We're a little different than other sites. 0 Responses Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. After studying Pauls letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, What should I do now? There are several possible explanations for the experienceit may be a psychological experience or even a spiritual experience, but clearly, from the Word of God, it is not the Spirits gift of tongues. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. be guarded at all costs. That will tell you what an answer is. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of 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. Interested in joining the Ligonier team? on Phil no. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. All deeds done from the same motive are the same, however different they may be in regard to the material on which they are wrought. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. 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." 19:28). Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? It is a pathetic little picture of the Macedonian stranger in the great city -- pallid looks, recent illness, and pining for home and a breath of pure mountain air, and for the friends he had left. But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. Because I am submitted and 2. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? He was the, "Loving Gambler.". to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his Spam, "Let a search be made in the royal archives" Ezra 5:17 NIV, Pastor of the Community Bible Church in Aguila, Arizona, One beggar leading others to where the bread is. But, what happened? 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. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. It does not contain doubt, but refers to a decision arrived Why is there a need for healing leaves from the tree in Revelations? Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Miracles by definition are not normative Here is the deal, without faith you cannot receive the word of God. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? It is used 35 times in the New God healed me of heart disease. Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. Thus, we can see Paul was not with Epaphroditus when he got sick, so the argument that he failed to heal him is not relevant. John 1:12 ). His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time? Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? 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). Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? (See below left). In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. 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. When is the last time that this happened to you? But the Lord revealed to Paul that that which is perfect was coming. It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testamentfrom the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. 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. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to Romans 10:8-10 tells us: 8 But what saith it? Clearly "Epaphroditus" was a brave man, for anyone who proposed to offer himself as the personal attendant of a man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very . 12:9). Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. Keyword: "IF". 14:18)! The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions.