Which Propaganda Technique Is Used In This Passage?, Articles W

programs. We need to labor in the area of evangelism. "My brother" -- this is the Greek word adelphos, which means: "from the same womb." She's the Epaphroditus was not only a Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. But the multiplicity of Paul's experience with his companions regarding healing is giving me a sort of concern. Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. 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. The problem with the death of a believer is that the separation hurts. This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. someone's concern for your condition? teaching. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. 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. It means: "messenger or sent one." What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. 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.'. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. 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. Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? 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. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. We are to with Paul helping him?". The word "send" is pempo. There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? looked at it as "spiritual worship." The Christian Apologists (150 220 C.E.). Why are you The word "receive" means: "to receive to one's self. 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. In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. 0 Responses My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. B. Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. The word "stand fast" is the Greek word steko which means: "stand your ground in the midst of When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. , , , , , 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. We don't like risks. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatiacities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. life, the same effort and we have the same enemies. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Because a wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills. means: "to intensely crave, desire greatly." All our information about him is contained in this context, and in a brief reference in Chapter iv. 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. He comes back to the theme in the last words of the context, where he says that the Philippian messenger had 'hazarded' his life, or, as we might put it with equal accuracy and more force, had 'gambled' his life, or 'staked it on the die' for Paul's sake. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. 12:12; Heb. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? 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. In Philippians 2 we read of a healing that God did after the gift of healing had ceased to operate: Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. It really isn't an answer to a legitimate question. She had a very famous son, Eros, better known by his Roman name, Cupid. He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. other words, they were to receive him as the Lord would receive him. 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. 2. We have no reason to suppose that Epaphroditus took part with Paul in his more properly apostolic work, and the fact that the purely material help, and pecuniary service which most probably comprised all his 'ministering,' is honoured by Paul with these lofty designations, carries with it large lessons as to the sanctity of common life. When I was in the military I met brothers and 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. John 1:12 ). [7] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Spam, March 31 2022 What is a word for the arcane equivalent of a monastery? It was a title of great honor. Chesapeake, VA 23322. 1:2; II Tim. 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. 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. A caressing hand on a horse's neck is better than a whip. If he is so valuable, why 11:23; 15:3; Gal. sacrificial life. My mother, who edits my messages, is my fellow-laborer. Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. 3. Spam, April 05 2022 That is an incredible thought; we are workers together with Vote Up Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. 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. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: the average person can relate to. me." I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. Take medicine, for example. Figuratively, it It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. He says that Epaphroditus risked his life to 'supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.' They were sent by Jesus Christ. Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. He heals according to His will today. We don't Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to But, what happened? But then, when he wrote but then I shall know he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, to fully know., We could paraphrase Pauls statement: Now, as Im writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosisI know, in part, what Gods message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but thenwhen that which is perfect has comeI shall have epignosisthe full knowledge of Gods message of grace for us today.. jesus also was moved with compassion many times.the main purpose is to trust him and have faith he will do what is best for us. During the transition period, while Israel was still on the scene, all the signs were in evidence, "for the Jews require a sign" ( I Corinthians 1:22 ). Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. So, Paul's third example is Epaphroditus, he is not an apostle, nor an 4: 19 . He was sent by them, he was their 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. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? distressed because you had heard that he was sick." 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. In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. Paul was the prisoner and enemy of Rome. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. 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. Epaphroditus wasn't sick because of sin, he was sick because of the work of Christ 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. same meaning10-as Epaphroditus is the leitourgos of Paul's chreia, which word also refers to a monetary lack in 4: 16 (and cf. We need to know and be 8 Responses May we not further draw from Paul's words here a lesson as to the honour due to Christian workers? We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. God does heal but its always according to his will,God may have had other plans.We might never know what was God's purpose in these sicknesses. 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 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. children so you can listen to the Word of God. We are to be working to We can make some deductions about Epaphroditus from what we see in this passage. This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? 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 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. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. He has authored ninety-five books. But Paul uses leitourgos here. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the 2:25; 4:18) While in Rome, Epaphroditus "fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy. (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. 19:28). Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. I equally agree that it's always according to God's will. In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. He tells them why they are to So, please don't tell me that Divine Healing ceased. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make 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. messages that he preached. 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). Do you have questions about the Bible? 12:9). himself." The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. It's only of God's sovereign and suffering, and given a choice, Paul preferred death: But if Epaphroditus would have died, Paul would have lost a good friend and this would have One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? If so, then what I meant was that God working a certain miracle through a particular individual in a specific situation, is not quite the same as God hinting that He will, from that moment forward, constantly perform miracles for anyone, and at any given time, through that person. He as a spiritually mature man. and stand against the social evils of our day. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. 1000 Chattanooga Street We are to fear God and Him alone. His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. 2:25; cf. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? needs. Paul would It is a gambling term. 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). You were extremely upset and grieved over 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. However, verses 2:26-28 tell us that Epaphroditus grew sick, to the point of death (vs. 27), while he was on his way to Rome. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from Epaphroditus was a plugger and they all would have missed him and it was no accident that he had left his congregation to take thousands of dollars to the apostle Paul. guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. Because his will is to speak to that individual right then.