Click here for the Philippians 2:25-30 PODCAST
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. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 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. 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. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 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. ~ Philippians 2:25-30
In our text the Apostle Paul uses another example of the principle that he gives in Philippians 2:1-16. Epaphroditus, also known as, Epaphras, as noted in Colossians 1:7, is the example now. Epaphroditus was a common name, drawn from the name of the Greek goddess, Aphrodite, who was the goddess of love. Her Roman name was Venus. Epaphroditus was named after her. Epaphroditus literally means "favorite by Aphrodite."
Epaphroditus came out of a pagan background, and was converted to Christ. According to v.25, he was useful to the church in Philippi and the Apostle Paul by delivering a financial gift to Paul from the believers in Philippi. It was an act of love, because travel in those days was difficult and dangerous. In v.30, Paul uses a verb, "risked," which means "to roll the dice." This is what we do when we gamble. It means to expose oneself to danger.
In v.25, Paul describes Epaphroditus as “my brother.” Epaphroditus was Paul's spiritual brother, and as followers of the Lord Jesus, they both had the same source of life. And, since they shared the same passion to advance the gospel, they had a tight bond in Christ.
Paul also refers to Epaphroditus as "my co-worker and fellow soldier." The Greek word used here for fellow soldier is the Greek word stratios from which we get our word strategist. Paul refers to Epaphroditus as my fellow strategist in the war of the spiritual realm.
Like Timothy, Epaphroditus had God's heart for others. He almost died, which caused Paul to have what he describes in v.27 as “sorrow upon sorrow.” According to v.28, Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to the Philippians in order to lessen the Philippians' anxiety.
In v.29-30, Paul encourages the Philippians to honor Epaphroditus who had “almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.” Epaphroditus risked his life for the Gospel indicating how invested he was in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.
When we enter into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, and He reveals His heart to and for us, we begin to develop a deep heart of gratitude for who He is and what He has done in our lives. As our theology develops, we are granted a wider and deeper understanding of His salvation which melts our hearts of stone.
The Lord Jesus has come into our lives, not bent on changing our personality. He does address our ego, and it's good for it to go, that independent self that seeks always to be the center of attention. He will wage relentless, unending war against that, and the weapon He uses is primarily, the cross. Our trials and those moments when we need His grace are also helpful. He does not destroy our person, He indwells us, he enhances us. The result is attractive and transformational. It is at this moment that we experience God as He intended.
The Gospel is not just a set of rules, when followed, gets us into heaven or even makes our lives have meaning. It is a movement that transforms God’s entire creation. God will make that happen. And He has given us the privilege of being part of it. It is out of this perspective C.S. Lewis wrote, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
To help BYM, click here
