:25-30

1. Introduction: a. Moving from exhortation / teaching / imperatives to illustrations b. Last Week: Timothy c. This Week: Epaphroditus 2. V.25: But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. a. Necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus i. Epaphroditus – name: epi + Aphrodite: devoted to Aphrodite – also means “lovely.” b. Brother, co-worker, fellow soldier, messenger – 4 words Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus - emphasizes his affectionate relationship i. Brother: 1. Adelphos: a + delphus (a = connective particle; delphus = womb) A fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection; brothers & sisters in ; Here specific use, but elsewhere “brothers & sisters” ii. Co-worker: 1. Sun + ergon; companion in work, fellow worker (co-worker) 2. “By calling Epaphroditus his co-worker, Paul includes him in his inner circle of associates; he has a place on the team who lived, traveled, and served with Paul for the advance of the .” Hansen, 202. 3. Also uses this term for: Priscilla & Aquila Ro 16:3; Urbanus Ro 16:9; Timothy Ro 16:21; 1 Th 3:2; Phm 1:1; 1 Co 3:9; Titus 2 Co 8:23; Eudoia & Syntyche + Clement Ph 4:2-3; called Justus along with Aristarchus, Mark (’ cousin) Col 4:10-11; & Luke Phm 1:24 iii. Fellow soldier: 1. Systratiotes combo of sun and stratiotes = a fellow soldier – an associate in labor and conflicts for the cause of Christ. iv. Messenger: 1. Apostolos: Per NIV textnote > a broader use of the Greek word often translated “apostle,” applied here to Epaphroditus as a representative of the Philippian church. c. Whom you sent to take care of your needs i. Laos + Ergon (people + work): A public minister, a servant of the state; a minister, servant – so of military laborers, of the temple – of one busied with holy things, of a priest, of the servants of a king. 1. Paul uses this word of himself in Romans 15:15-16 2. For Epaphroditus, this term means he was sent by the Philippian church to be a personal assistant to Paul. Hansen, 203. 3. V. 26: For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. a. Longing for = epi + potheo: to long for, desire, to pursue with love, to long after i. Same word Paul uses in 1:8. b. Distressed = ademoneo: to be troubled, great distress or anguish, depressed; full of heaviness (used of Jesus when was in the garden at Gethsemane Mt 26:37; Mark 14:33). 4. V.27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. a. He was ill & almost died i. The repetition of Epaphroditus’ illness and near death experience parallels the narrative of Christ in 2:8 > who was obedient, even to death on a cross! b. But God had mercy on him i. We see a “stark juxtaposition” between death and God’s mercy… Paul gives God all the glory for Epaphroditus’ recovery from illness. Paul points to God’s healing and the focus is God-centered. Hansen, 205. c. Not on him only but also on me to spare me sorrow upon sorrow 1 i. Layers of sorrow: sorrow upon sorrow… 1. Immediate sorrow of possibly losing Epaphroditus. What was the source of his deeper sorrow? 5. V.28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety a. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him… i. More of Paul’s emotion? Was this coming from a place of joy? Epaphroditus had just had a near death experience – was Paul excited for him to get back to his church / community to continue to live his life? b. So that when you see him again you may be glad… i. “Only when they see Epaphroditus and fully appreciate how God had mercy on him, will they fully recover from the upsetting news of his illness and rejoice in the Lord over his miraculous healing…. ii. Paul’s focus in this passage as always is God-centered; rejoicing in Paul’s theology is praise for God’s mercy and delight in God’s presence. By sending Epaphroditus home, Paul knows that he will lead the church into joyful worship for the merciful intervention of God.” Hansen, 207. c. I may have less anxiety… i. Different from the verb used in 2:20 = genuine concern; alypos = free from grief or pain ii. NIV textnote “The legitimate cares and concerns that come with the Christian life and the gospel ministry (see note on 4:6 cf. 2 Co 4:8; 11:28).” 6. V.29: So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, a. Again the tone of joy – Paul encourages them to welcome Epaphroditus back with a celebration – “a joyful reunion.” i. “Paul urges the Philippians to give Epaphroditus a really great banquet and a permanent place of honor rather than a simple potluck supper and a quick nod for his service.” Hansen, 208. b. “In the Lord”: Reminder of Epaphroditus’ place within the community of believers and the connection among the community centered upon the Lord. c. Honor people like him i. “…the honor given to such people as Epaphroditus is really honor given to Christ cine such people reflect Christ.” Hansen, 208. 7. V.30: because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. a. He almost died for the work of Christ… i. Paul is underscoring the “By stating that Epaphroditus ‘came near to death’ for the work of Christ, Paul deliberately draws a clear verbal parallel with the Christ hymn: Epaphroditus came near to death // Christ was obedient unto death. The humble, self sacrificing attitude of Christ, the Servant is seen in this servant of Christ.” Hansen, 208. b. He risked his life… i. Epaphroditus has the mind of a martyr… c. To make up for the help you yourselves could not give me… i. He’s not criticizing them, he’s simply recognizing the fact of their personal absence.

8. Concluding thought: a. Through all the troubles and disappointments of his life, Paul is able to see and delight in the radiance of Christ reflected in the character and service of his friends. When he draws their portraits, he shows how ordinary people give themselves sacrificially to serve the needs of others as Christ did. In this way his friends become an extension of his imperative to have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had (2:5). Hansen, 210.

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