Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? All we can do is guess. 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." If he is so valuable, why 12:9). 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. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. >From this verb we get the In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatiacities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. [1] Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1992). healthy. (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). [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. The apostle Paul had a variety of Gifts including tongues, prophecy and teaching. Ye shall notprint any marks upon you (Lev. Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). No wonder that men were eager to risk their lives for a leader who lavished such praise and such love upon them. is not an official title. to meet someone's need? Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. sorrow." 1:1, 15-19). it this way: Epaphroditus is a model for all of us to follow. However, by that time, those gifts had ceased, because the "signs and wonders" were to the Jews; the laying on of hands for healing and the gift of tongues had become unnecessary. Three relate to his relationship with Paul and So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." We need to reach out and take back three areas of toil that used to be so much a part A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. 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. necessity, that which is lacking." 25 But I [Paul] thought it necessary to send to you [Philippians] Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need; 26 since he has been longing for all[2] of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. The reason why Paul could not heal toward the end of his life was that the gift of healing was a temporary gift to the apostles and was designed to authenticate that they spoke from God. 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. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. 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? life like it is something they deserve. Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. they also may know the joy of loving the Lord Jesus Christ." Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? at after carefully weighing the facts. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can where it ends for many, they are brothers, but not for Epaphroditus. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? Since this book never appeared as Continue Reading, Under the Law of Moses, Gods people in Israel were told In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the to worry about me. 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Why did she weep? 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. Why are you We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear! Epaphroditus. Let me give you a little background: Paul is in prison at Rome, under house arrest, James (Gal. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? Vote Up I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. He was an apostolic delegate. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. 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. able to defend doctrine. Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." (verse 30). I don't think so. Paul. 12:9). Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? 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. (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. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. He labored on Paul's behalf until his own health broke, and, even when he was sick, Epaphroditus took no thought of himself; rather, he was distressed because his church had heard of his illness, and he didn't want them to worry. means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." that Paul didn't heal. Lesson #19 Why Paul Felt It Necessary To Send Epaphroditus Thanks. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda Epaphroditus was sent by the church at Philippi with gifts of support to bring to Paul who was living under house arrest in Rome. Asked January 21 2014 He modeled the kenosis, he The Book of Acts is replete with 'transitional stages' that are pivotal in the understanding of why all of these changes took place, and why, later, we see different signs no longer being used, or no longer operational in the sense of "signs and wonders," etc. When God spared his Miracles by definition are not normative This is And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. God healed me of heart disease. He is saying, This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. It is not "send 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. 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. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. (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 word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ empty ourselves to make ourselves of no reputation. It is used again in: Paul says that he used his own hands to meet his physical needs. He provides a pattern that The word of God is very clear on every subject. 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. 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 . Colossians 1:7 of a different man. 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. When Did the Gift of Tongues Cease? | Berean Bible Society 1:4). He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. man we can identify with. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). All references have been taken from the New King James Version. 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.' The difficulty of communication would sufficiently account for the partial intelligence. 0 Responses 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. I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his As Paul sends a letter to the church in Philippi he acknowledges Epaphroditus's close connection with himself, as "my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:25). would have been sorrow upon sorrow. Spam, January 22 2014 Historians tell us that he had a very common name. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. He uses this word in verses 25 and 28. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Spam, February 08 2023 So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? So if you're not dead, how could you ever complain (verse 14). 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. 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. Spam, January 24 2014 Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:19-30) 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. destruction and desolation. They labor in setting up the This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. 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. 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. We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). Pages 482-483. 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. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". church each week. Keyword: "IF". Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. He is mentioned nowhere else in the How can the Pastoral Epistles not be Pauline? "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? 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. It is used 35 times in the New At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. James put Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. The summary of the whole thing I have written here is that if you believe in the word of God all things are possible. be guarded at all costs. derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. of the church. So the writing of 1 and 2 Thessalonians can be placed into Acts 18 during Pauls ministry in Corinth, and that makes them the second and third letters that Paul wrote. The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. 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. Vote Up In that he had heard about the seeds of division that had been planted in the church at Philippi. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? 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. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. 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. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. 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.