This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. 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. He risked his life as a gambler will take risks Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. 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. See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies. be grieved over his sickness. This isn't to say that God doesn't or won't heal today, because this is obviously not true, but the "laying on of hands" by a man (as a 'gift') has all but ceased, and yet there are still 'healing teachers' out there in the world today teaching a false gospel, having "healing revivals" that come to nought, etc. 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. In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. Paul. Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. The keyword here is "gift." We have work to do, Paul merely needed to help Epaphroditus to locate the negative thoughts he was having about his being sick, his feeling as though he let the Philippians down, or his feeling as though he had failed Paul. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make Isn't that By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 11:14). 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. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? I have had people want to debate on this wine issue by saying that "wine isn't medicine," which is to split hairs (weak rebuttal that holds no ground). We are to be working to 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. sadness. deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. But the promise that He gave to Paul is still our promise today in the dispensation of grace: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. Vote Up In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. 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. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. No matter where you go you can find God's family. It really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda For those people, he believed it was best to get married and satisfy their urges legally. A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. 5:23) and Paul cant heal him, doesnt recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesnt send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). 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. First-century life, however, was far different. It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. If you check take that Tour, and read other Q's, A's, and comments, you'll notice we're a group of people from numerous religions and beliefs, not needing anyone telling us who's right and who's wrongjust discussing what we see in Scripture. everyone will be glad and not sad.". Vote Up cruel, sick, and unloving? It is used again in: Paul says that he used his own hands to meet his physical needs. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of Epaphroditus had nearly died in bringing the Philippians' gift to Paul in Rome, but God spared the apostle from great sorrow by healing him. He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to This gives us the manner in which the Philippians should receive him and why. A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. Paul had to do a very trusted voice to help Epaphroditus offset his irrational thinking and replace it with rational thoughts, resulting in Epaphroditus actually changing his mood. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someones face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face. This word is used 13 times in the New Testament, 12 by Paul of people who work with him in I think sometimes it is wise to not isolate the Gift of Healing when we think about these questions. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? honor a solider, they would give him the title -- Sustratiotes. 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. 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. It's nice to know that there are some people in the ministry compelled by relationships and not 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. This is a self-less man. 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. You won't die prematurely, so go ahead and take some Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. Asked January 21 2014 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. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 120. that Paul didn't heal. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. On the contrary, Paul considered him his "brother," "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier," and "their apostle and servant" (2:25). Since no exercise of the gift of healing is recorded past about ?._. God heals when it's in His will to heal; the difference is that the gift of healing (a man laying on of hands with instant healing) has ceased, and 2) so has the gift of tongues (it's no longer needed, but if it is used, I believe that God will allow it to occur, only when the church is edified, and only when there is an interpreter amidst the assembly! 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. He provides a pattern that PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? The word of God is a Spirit. In believing the word of God, you have to. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? So Paul with rare abnegation sent him away at once, though Timothy was to follow shortly, and accompanied him with this outpouring of love and praise in his long homeward journey. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. 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. But Paul This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a a uniquely spiritual act. This may be the most important message you ever read. Let us hope he got safe back to his friends, and as Paul bade them, they received him in the Lord with all joy, the echoes of which we almost hear as he passes out of our knowledge. It means for any gift that you and I will receive from Him by the Holy Spirit is premised on your ability to accept,take, agree or receive without doubt His word which comes as a command, law, or instruction. 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. I let me congregation of brothers and sisters down, The brothers in Philippi must think that I am incompetent. The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. 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. 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. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. for a possible gain. Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. (verse 30). Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. Paul is saying that God was PERMITTING them to do certain signs so that the Jews might believe that they were of God. Paul sees Epaphroditus' ministry to him as the average person can relate to. Paul's own "thorn in the flesh" is a prime example: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-a-thorn-in-the-flesh.html Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. The ministry is people! When God spared his 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. His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). 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. Look at the rest of the verse: "was two to his relationship with the Philippian church. Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. 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. Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. 1:7)no church had more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than the Corinthian church, yet Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. By that I 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. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. 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. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. rev2023.3.3.43278. Answer (1 of 9): EPAPHRODITUS [handsome, charming]. The Philippians would want to know, "what are you doing back? Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. 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. Do you know who my co-laborers are? No, the answer is that God's program had changed. You were extremely upset and grieved over feel bad because he is sick. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? we are to pray for the sick that they may be healed. My legs were swollen and my body was a mass of pain. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly someone's concern for your condition? Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. But, what happened? The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. 11 God was performing extraordinary [e]miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? 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. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. Why was he distressed Was he just homesick? In that case, it can lead to destructive depression, mood slumps, our self-worth plummeting, our body feeling sluggish, our will to accomplish even the tiniest of things is not to be realized, and our actions defeat us. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. 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. send him back? The normal word What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Besides, Epaphroditus was longing to see the church because he knew that they had found out that he had been ill (2:26). 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. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. 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. Paul does not seem to have healed Epaphroditus. Love never fails. He as a spiritually mature man. goddess of luck. 12:9). derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, better known by her Roman name , Venus. 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). 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? In 12:9). Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? be guarded at all costs. Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. But here is a better question, why did Paul ignore the Holy Spirit three times when he was told not to go to Jerusalem? I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send John 1:12 ). In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. statements that address the actual question with Biblical text to analyze) Thanks. We are not to fear people, they can't hurt you. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. Where was Paul when he wrote to the Philippians? Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. It's hard to identify with him and his When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. The Hardison's are all fellow-laborers with me. The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. It means: "messenger or sent one." This is not a rebuke, it literally means: "to complete your service to me." Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. These men and women of God where normal people of God, who made mistakes just like us and didnt do everything perfect.
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