And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Pauls, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. die!" Timothy, whom we looked at last week, was a gifted preacher and I don't think so. The answer is: He wouldn't have! 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. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. He as a spiritually mature man. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. impact our society, if we are going to be effective in our evangelism, we need to quit selfishly Hardly. We have work to do, Consider the Book of Mark chapter 16 verses 17-20. 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. delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be 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. and stand against the social evils of our day. View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. We begin by setting up a time line of Pauls ministry. He was sent by them, he was their Thanks. Look at: Here he uses chreia to speak of physical needs. 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. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? Colossians 1:7 of a different man. This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? I mean, I was a 1% biker, I did many many bad things which I will not glorify. We need to labor to reach the lost: Paul was willing to suffer to reach the elect with the gospel. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later. 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. Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? Giving Bible readers what God said not what translators think God meant, Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. Collen - I agree that it always according to God's will not ours. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? Spam, January 22 2014 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! 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. We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. However, God, who can do things as He chooses, chose not to immediately heal Epaphroditus. man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of If the Apostle Paul still had the power to heal why would he leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27 and encouraged Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23)? During this time he wrote the three letters known as the Pastoral Epistles, because these letters were written to Pauls co-workersPastor Timothy and Titus. John uses this word also in: This word is used of meeting physical needs. Epaphrodtus. Then he goes on to say that he was 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. He didn't want them to fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that 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. esteem him in: The word "work" is ergon meaning: "toil, effort, work. Epaphroditus, the man who had carried a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul while the Apostle was imprisoned in Rome (Phil. When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. It was his brethren who were exhorted to receive their own messenger back again 'in the Lord with all joy, and to hold him in honour.' In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronounthat thing which is perfect. Paul was not writing about the coming of He who is perfect but of the coming of a thing which is perfect. 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. deliver the money and leave, he was to stay and to minister to Paul's needs. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. 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. Epaphroditus risked it all, life included, to minister to others. How this happened or what his sickness was The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. 8 Responses 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. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. When would these gifts cease? I don't really understand the question from your first comment. The words "more eagerly" have the idea of: "with haste or diligence." Epaphroditus was evidently healed through the Lords direct, miraculous intervention, perhaps via the gifts of healing that some believers possessed during the Apostolic era (1 Cor. to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". 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. 2:27). 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. I weighed the facts and found it a necessity to send Spam, January 24 2014 soon meaning: "together with" and stratiotes meaning: "soldier." He was an apostolic delegate. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future. Thus, we can see Paul was not with Epaphroditus when he got sick, so the argument that he failed to heal him is not relevant. all brothers, do we act like it? The question has always been: when? in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). Gods sparing of Epaphroditus life was a tangible expression of His abundant grace to Paul. 0 Responses 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. "distressed"ademoneo, it means: "to be depressed or rejected, be troubled, full of anguish or Paul uses this as a term of affection. 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. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. We have no record of any In believing the word of God, you have to. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. 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. commissioned and sent out Timothy. . Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to For some, Pauls instructions to the prophets at Corinth will be pertinent: If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. for a possible gain. 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. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. This morning we are going to look at the kenois of Epaphroditus who is much like us, he is a We need to meet people's needs Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Because his will is to speak to that individual right then. The word of God is God. looked at it as "spiritual worship." We need to "show" people that we love them by It is a compound word from at after carefully weighing the facts. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. apostolic delegate. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. a uniquely spiritual act. This is why he and these others were not healed by him. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. Those things are just as 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. The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. This is the depth of love and care. The gift of healing had ceased to operate, along with the other sign gifts. And in verses 29-30, we are given the exaltation and kenosis of been painful. The name Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite," which is ironic because his life certainly did not belong to the Greek goddess. Vote Up 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. delegate. 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]. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. Everybody feels bad so Paul says, "You've got to go back so Please make sure you take our Tour. This is because the word of God is living and active. Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. Epaphroditus is one of us, which makes his example very powerful and very convicting to us. 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. 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 ). He healed Epaphroditus, but He did not heal Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 or in Galatians 4:13-15, or Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, or Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. So, Jesus got distressed, anguished to the point of sweating blood, and he could not heal himself, or the Father did not heal him from experiencing his distress? somebody around an AIDS patient? Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). The first fact about him is, that he was one of the Philippian Christians, and sent by them to Rome, with some pecuniary or material help, such as comforts for Paul's prison-house, food, clothing, or money. Paul had the gift of healing didn't he? 4: 19 . Philippians had heard that he was sick. In Gaiuss home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. honor him. When Paul wrote now I know in part, he used the common word for know, the Greek word gnosis. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Take medicine, for example. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at This word is also used in: This "business" is chreia, it refers to taking care of their physical needs. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. It How about the Gift of Faith, do we not all have Faith, so how does this work when a person has a Gift of Faith? If our hearts are set to 'hallow all we find,' the most secular duties will be acts of worship. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. He was the, "Loving Gambler.". Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their (II Corinthians 12:7-9) Epaphroditus came to Paul at Rome and became gravely ill, but Paul who had miraculously healed so many did not miraculously heal him (Philippians 2:25-30). It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. Are we fellow soldiers? We are to fear God and Him alone. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. God owes us nothing! For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. It only takes a minute to sign up. messages, or do what ever Paul needed. Therefore, Paul sent Epaphroditus back with his letter to the Philippians so that they could stop worrying and rejoice too (2:25-30). But Paul [3] Apparently on the way to Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Cor. Weak in the faith is another use. Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testamentfrom the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. here with us can get a tape and those who were here but slept can go home and listen to the Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Paul holds them up as They were sent by Jesus Christ. Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? (See below left). Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. It's only of God's sovereign Paul commends Epaphroditus very highly for his faithfulness even unto death. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. necessity, that which is lacking." involved in. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. That will tell you what an answer is. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. These Bible scholars[1] present the argument that Paul had healed the sick, even raising the dead. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). 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 The word "longing" is epipotheo, it Since this book never appeared as Continue Reading, Under the Law of Moses, Gods people in Israel were told Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward The word "send" is pempo. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda 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. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. someone who would represent the church well. The word believe means to accept, to receive, to take and also to agree. Christ emptied of the church. Miracles by definition are not normative good friend. Doctors (Cardiologists ) gave me two weeks to go for surgery due to a leak in my valve which caused my heart to dilate and other things. (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. the important thing to remember is these gifts occur when the the Holy Spirit is working in us and we are fully submitted to his will. In fact, we are so accustomed to recovering from sickness that we are often surprised when we or others take a long time to get over what we regard as routine illnesses. We are co-laborers. John 1:12 ). two to his relationship with the Philippian church. The Greek word finds its origin in a However, Paul was often an instrument of healing. Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. Once saved, his spirit is completely made Brand New, is this not a miracle? In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them. This is a self-less man. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. Paul could no longer heal anyonenot Epaphroditus in Philippians 2, not Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, not Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. He heals according to His will today. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? Look at the rest of the verse: "was sacrificial. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. He was troubled because they heard that 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. Why did Paul not heal Trophimus? church each week. Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger. 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. He labored on Paul's behalf until his own health broke, and, even when he was sick, Epaphroditus took no thought of himself; rather, he was distressed because his church had heard of his illness, and he didn't want them to worry. My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. What Is the Difference Between 'Man' And 'Son of Man' in Num 23:19? Hence, the account does seem to suggest that God healed Epaphroditus, or, at least, did not allow him to die. The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for They had prophesied in Jesus name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want Our thoughts based on a good mood will be entirely different from those based on our being upset. He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. She was the goddess Have you ever watched Think of the profound clefts of separation between the Macedonian and the Jew, the antipathies of race, the differences of language, the dissimilarities of manner, and then think of what an unheard-of new thing it must have been that a Macedonian should 'serve' a Jew! Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. She's the Epaphroditus was ministering to Paul physically; he brought him a financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry messages, or do what ever Paul needed. But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. 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. Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. Yes, they really had had these experiences. 1:2; II Tim. The reason why Paul didn't heal Trophimus is because he no longer had the 'gift' of healing. needs. When Jesus said in Mark 16:17-20 that these signs shall follow those who believe. Paul also had another concern on his heart. 1:14). Spam, March 20 2018 We are Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! For many this is a great relief. Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. First-century life, however, was far different. There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble 14:30-33). This word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ 1:22) so God gave them signsamong the Gentiles!in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. 19:28). 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. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. fellow laborers, they send out what I teach to others around the country. The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. Epaphroditus wasn't the only friend What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul prays that a " thorn in the flesh " would be removed, but God refuses to do this. He never allows us to suffer something that He doesnt give us the strength to live through. teaching. Vote Up Greek He was sick history, used all through the LXX to refer to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant and the Vote Up Spam, March 31 2022 himself and God exalted him. 2. He provides a pattern that When I had Guillain-Barre syndrome I didn't tell my mother I was sick because I didn't want her Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. The miracles of healing that the The word "considered" is hegeomai. At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. healthy. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Why was he distressed Was he just homesick? You were extremely upset and grieved over We're a little different than other sites.