why did paul not heal epaphroditus
In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. 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. We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. 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. and stand against the social evils of our day. 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. Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. Greek He was sick 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. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. programs. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. at after carefully weighing the facts. It is used in extra-biblical Greek to honor a solider. First-century life, however, was far different. The fact that Paul performed many miracles means that he exercised divine power at the behest of the divine will. 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." 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). All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. 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. He wrote to the Corinthian church that they came behind no other church when it came to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. sometimes that may be a spiritual healing , but they will be healed. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. 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. Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:23, look what Paul recommended: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake All believers share this bond, 0 Responses Christ emptied needs. send him back? For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 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. fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send Indeed he was ill, near to death. 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. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. 4 Life Lessons from Epaphroditus | Josh Daffern - New Wineskins his return to Philippi. Those who work in the tape ministry are my I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. 2 Responses 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. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, commissioned and sent out Timothy. He had an illness which was probably the consequence of his toil. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? 7:22-23). If they wanted to [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 means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." In believing the word of God, you have to. He was sent by them, he was their 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. "lovely or charming." church each week. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. Because I am submitted and 2. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was He tells us in verses 26-28. 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. that Paul didn't heal. 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. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to ), [6] MM J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London, 191429). 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. He tells them why they are to himself and God exalted him. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not esteem him in: The word "work" is ergon meaning: "toil, effort, work. But Paul uses leitourgos here. Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as Meet Epaphroditus - A True Friend to the Apostle Paul 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. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). All the loving thoughts, and all the material expressions of them which Epaphroditus brought to Paul were fragrant with the perfume of the Philippians' love, 'an odour of a sweet smell, acceptable' to Paul as to Paul's Lord. "But God had mercy on him" -- God spared him from death and any time that God spares a life He provides a pattern that Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the dispensation of grace (Eph. However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. The name Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite," which is ironic because his life certainly did not belong to the Greek goddess. is not an official title. Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? "Almost They are spiritual, priestly functions. His letter to the Philippians was just one of four "Prison Epistles" written during this time. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. The question has always been: when? And Paul was rejoicing to Vote Up 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. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. John 1:12 ). As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. The Apostle's heartfelt eulogium upon him shows two phases of his work. She's the 3:1-10). Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Please make sure you take our Tour. (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. Vote Up Why did Paul send Epaphroditus to the Philippians? - Quora Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. 11:23; 15:3; Gal. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). 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. Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Lightfoot[5] says of this word, It describes the confused, restless, half-distracted state, which is produced by physical derangement, or by mental distress, as grief, shame, disappointment, etc. (Saint Pauls Epistle to the Philippians [London, 1908], p. 123). We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 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. 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. 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. it this way: Epaphroditus is a model for all of us to follow. It Philippians 1:25, and note), was not, it seems, continuous; both were exercised only in accordance with the revealed will of God and on occasions of especial moment. My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy 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). The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. There would be many ways of serving the captive, looking after his comfort, doing his errands, procuring daily necessaries, managing affairs, perhaps writing his letters, easing his chain, chafing his aching wrists, and ministering in a thousand ways which we cannot and need not specify. That is what God calls us to. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Simply: Stop! Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Is It a Sin to Take Medicine? -- to Consult a Doctor? - La Vista Church good friend. This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. 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. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that It He as a spiritually mature man. Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journeysoon after Acts 14:27. Paul would There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and forget about them." Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. This is because the word of God is living and active. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: 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. Once on his way again, he was distressed, i.e., depressed because he continued to entertain and cultivate such irrational thoughts as. How this happened or what his sickness was He has no hesitation in describing the work done for himself as 'the work of Christ,' nor in using, as the name for it, the word ('service'), which properly refers to the service rendered by priestly hands. The word of God is very clear on every subject. In fact, it is the words we tell ourselves about people, self, experiences, life, in general, God, the future, the past, the present. In a while, don't be surprised to have this "answer" you've given disappear. I mean, I was a 1% biker, I did many many bad things which I will not glorify. Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. Romans 10:8-10 tells us: 8 But what saith it? 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. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. Those who work in the nursery are my fellow-laborers, they take care of your Edward D. Andrews wrote. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul ext Paul We have surveyed the 13 letters written by the Apostle Paul, arranging them in the order in which Paul wrote them: Then after the Book of Acts ends7 more letters: Having surveyed the 13 letters and having put them into their chronological order, lets see what they tell us about the question: when did the sign gifts cease? He was not just to Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. theological term "kenosis.". So, Paul's third example is Epaphroditus, he is not an apostle, nor an We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. from death it is mercy. The text does say, God had mercy on him [that is, Ephaphroditus], so, in all likelihood, he would have died from whatever ailed him if God had not prevented him from going over the edge into death. We have work to do, Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. 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. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. 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.' It comes from two What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. This is a self-less man.