We are co-laborers. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." 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. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, The word of God is a Spirit. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. 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. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. It came from God, and God could and apparently did choose to slowly withdraw the gift of miraculous healing from the Early Church. What does this say to the "health-wealth gospel" This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. ii.) For many this is a great relief. goddess of luck. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. In the Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be We don't Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. A man who never opens his lips but to censure or criticise, who fastens on faults as wasps do on blemished fruit, will never be surrounded by loyal love. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. a uniquely spiritual act. Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. The word "considered" is hegeomai. sisters in Christ in other countries. Let me give you a little background: Paul is in prison at Rome, under house arrest, All our information about him is contained in this context, and in a brief reference in Chapter iv. send him back? impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly me." Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. 2. Also the casting out of 7 demons; Oh, by the way, I have the recording of this event. on Phil no. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. It is not confined to In Gaiuss home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. When we are having an experience that we learn from the Scriptures is not from the Lord, it is time to keep silent, and remember that our spirits are to be under our own controlthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.. He was sent by them, he was their Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. 2:4) had passed away by this time. The ship sails across the track of the moonlight, and then vanishes ghost-like into darkness. All we can do is guess. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be Why? 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. They were sent by Jesus Christ. Spam, March 20 2018 (Grand Rapids, 1979 rpt. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. Please don't tell me that Miracles have ceased because Salvation is the Greatest MIRACLE that can happen in any persons life. The 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. We have work to do, Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. 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. Paul used this word in: It is a strong inward desire for the Philippians. So, to sum up what we have seen so far, from Acts 9 through Acts 28 we read of the earlier ministry of the Apostle Paul and find that during these years he wrote 6 of his 13 letters. And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. Pages 482-483. 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. needs. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. Testament use of this word. I also believe the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. They are spiritual, priestly functions. That was one less thing Paul had to be concerned about (2:26-27). He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. 12:9). Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. the proclamation of the gospel effective. 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. These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. . It 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). 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. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. life like it is something they deserve. 0 Responses we don't know. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. 14:18)! [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. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. 0 Responses 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. Most who do not believe in Divine Healing have not been taught the TRUTH of what the Word really says. Do you know who my co-laborers are? He and all his brethren are gone, but his name lives for ever, and Paul's praise of him and of his work outshines all else remembered of the city, where conquerors once reigned, and outside whose walls was fought a battle that decided for a time the fate of the world. We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. delegate. children so you can listen to the Word of God. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. goddess of love. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble 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. Christ emptied I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. If I walk down the street and I get a word of knowledge for someone, it is 1. deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. involved in. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? So, in short, Epaphroditus grew sick on his 600-mile journey to Rome, to the point of death, which delayed him from fulfilling his mission of helping Paul. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? 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. 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 really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. God healed me of heart disease. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. View our current career opportunities. Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a 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 Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving: Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of Those thoughts would have contributed to his feelings of frustration, mental anguish, distress, or low self-worth. It is also hard to identify with Timothy who was a duplicate of Paul, he's no easy Paul might have no longer had the use of it, but even if he did, it was not intended for believers. "Who ministered to my need" -- The word "need" is from chreia it means: "a need or But with the close of Acts, God sets aside Israel for a time, and when God gave up on the sign people for a time, the sign gifts passed out of His program. Ministering to others' physical needs is a spiritual priestly Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts. Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27? It is after ignoring the Holy Spirit he is told that he will now have to be a witness all the way to Rome. fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. Jesus said the greatest honor among his followers belongs to the one who renders the
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