Philippians 2:25-30; Epaphroditus, Costly Service ~ 20240303 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
03/03 Philippians 2:25-30; Epaphroditus, Risk in Service to Others; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20240303_philippians-2_25-30.mp3
In Philippians 2:19-30, Paul is communicating his plans, expressing his hope to visit them personally, explaining his intent to send Timothy soon, explaining why Ephaphroditus was returning to them presently. But this is no irrelevant ancient historical tidbit. Behind the news, he is holding up these two men as examples of Christlike character. In this letter, he exhorts the Philippians to love, to unity, to others-centered humility; and now he is holding up these two as tangible examples of what it looks like to allow the gospel to shape one’s heart, one’s mind, one’s life.
Philippians 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
Timothy served consistently alongside Paul in the gospel. Timothy was a living example of Philippians 2:3-4
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Epaphroditus
In verse 25 he moves from Timothy’s Christlike example, to that of Epaphroditus. We know of Epaphroditus only from this letter. We know that he was from Philippi, and according to chapter 4 he was sent by that church to Paul with a gift, and to care for Paul’s needs while in prison. The Philippians know Epaphroditus, but here Paul commends his character to them with five roles in which he has served both Paul and the Philippians. The first three relate to Paul; the last two relate to the Philippians.
My Brother [ἀδελφὸν]
Paul starts by calling Epaphroditus ‘my brother’. ‘Brother’ denotes siblings, children from the same parents. ‘Brother’ is sometimes used to describe an ethnic relationship; Paul refers to the unbelieving Jews as ‘my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh’ (Rom.9:3). But most often, ‘brother’ is used of brothers in Christ, sons and daughters of God through the gospel, adopted into his family. Paul addresses the Philippian church as ‘brothers’ in 1:12, and in 1:14 he refers to ‘brothers, confident in the Lord’ who were emboldened to speak the word without fear. Paul calls Epaphroditus ‘brother’, a sibling in Christ, a member of the household of faith.
My Fellow-Worker [συνεργὸν]
He calls him a fellow-worker. Paul considers Epaphroditus a co-laborer, a smaller group of those who have labored alongside him in the gospel. Prisca and Aquila (Rom.16:3), Urbanus (Rom.16:9), Timothy (Rom.16:21; 1Thes.3:2), Apollos (1Cor.3:9), Titus (2Cor.8:23), Euodia, Syntyche, Clement (Phil.4:3), Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus Justus (Col.4:11), Philemon (Phm.1:1), Demas, Luke (Phm.1:24). He commends:
Romans 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
This is a high commendation to be considered a co-laborer in the gospel with Paul.
My Fellow-Soldier [συστρατιώτην]
Paul affirms Epaphroditus as a fellow-soldier. Paul was well familiar with Roman soldiers, who rescued him from mob violence and risked their lives to protect him on more than one occasion, under whose watchful eye he was now imprisoned (Ac.28:16). He applies this compound word to only one other person in the New Testament, to Archippus (Phm.1:2). Paul exhorts Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
This is high praise of Epaphroditus. A brother in Christ; not only a brother but a co-laborer; not only a fellow-worker, but my fellow soldier, risking his life with me on the battlefield of faith.
Your Apostle [ἀπόστολον]
Next, Paul moves to commend Epaphroditus in his relationship to the church that sent him. He calls him ‘your messenger’, literally ‘your apostle’. The title ‘Apostle’ is usually reserved for the 12 that Jesus appointed as Apostles, together with Matthias, selected out of those who followed Jesus from the baptism of John through his resurrection appearances, to replace Judas, and Paul, to whom the Lord appeared and commissioned personally. The word [ἀπόστολος] apostle literally means a delegate or ambassador, one set apart and sent out on a mission with authority (Jn.13:16).
In Hebrews 3, Jesus, sent out by his Father, is called ‘the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him’ (Heb.3:1-2);
1n 1 Corinthians 16, Paul is instructing the Gentile churches to take a collection for the persecuted saints in Jerusalem, and he invites them to send delegates to accompany that gift. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul again refers to this gift and those sent from Macedonia to accompany the gift as ‘messengers (lit. apostles) of the churches’.
Here in Philippians, Paul refers to Epaphroditus as ‘your apostle’, one commissioned and sent out as a delegate of this church, authorized to deliver their gift to Paul.
Your Minster [λειτουργὸν] to My Need
Paul calls Epaphroditus ‘your minister to my need’. This word group translated ‘minister’ is an interesting one; it means a public servant, used of civil authorities as appointed by God in Romans 13:6. But most often, with its Old Testament background, it refers to the ministry of temple worship.
In Luke 1, the priest Zechariah was serving as priest in the Jerusalem temple, and when his time of ‘service’ or ‘ministry’ ended, he returned home and John the Baptist was conceived.
Hebrews 8 is pointing to Jesus our greater High Priest;
Hebrews 8:1 ...we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.
Paul in Romans 15 used this priestly analogy to describe his own ministry to the Gentiles;
Romans 15:15 ...because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister [λειτουργὸν] of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service [ἱερουργοῦντα] of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
He also uses this priestly service imagery to describe the financial collection from the Gentiles to be offered to the Jewish saints in Jerusalem:
2 Corinthians 9:12 For the ministry of this service [λειτουργίας] is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Peter views all believers as
1 Peter 2: 5 ...a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
That is his meaning here in Philippians; he calls Epaphroditus ‘your minister to my need’ and in verse 30, he describes his service as
Philippians 2:30 ...risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me [τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα τῆς πρός με λειτουργίας].
In chapter 4, he thanks them for their partnership in the gospel;
Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God [τὰ παρ’ ὑμῶν, ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας, θυσίαν δεκτήν, εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ].
Paul had described his own joy in Philippians 2:17 in Old Testament sacrificial terms:
Philippians 2:17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering (lit. on the sacrifice and service) of your faith [ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν], I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Paul views Epaphroditus’ as a minister, serving in person where the Philippians could not.
Sending Epaphroditus
Paul inserts this high praise of Epaphroditus into his sentence before he says that he is sending him to them. The word order of the original goes something like this: “But I considered necessary Epaphroditus, the brother, and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier of me, even your apostle, and minister to my need, to send to you.” Without these five intervening titles, the sentence structure is simple; ‘I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you.’
It seems Paul felt the need to explain why he was sending Epaphroditus. They sent him to Paul with a gift, and to minister to his needs in prison. This may have been a semi-permanent assignment, and they didn’t expect him back so soon, especially with Paul still in prison.
Strong Desire [ἐπιποθῶν]
Philippians 2:25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
Epaphroditus has been longing for the Philippians. This is the same word Paul used in chapter 1 to describe his own longing for the Philippians with all the affection of Christ Jesus (1:8). Paul longed to see other churches and individuals (Rom.1:11; 2Tim.1:4), and other churches longed to see him (1Thes.3:6). Peter uses this word to describe the strong desire babies have for milk (1Pet.2:2), and Paul uses it to describe the strong desire we have for heaven (2Cor.5:2).
Strong desires are not evil. We are made to feel, to have strong emotions. Our desires become sinful when we long for the wrong thing. Paul doesn’t have anything negative to say about Epaphroditus’ longing for the Philippians; his desire seems to run parallel Paul’s own, and to Timothy’s ‘genuine concern for your welfare.’
Deeply Troubled [ἀδημονῶν]
Epaphroditus not only has deep desires, but is deeply troubled. He has been distressed because you heard he was ill. He is not troubled over his illness; he is troubled because you heard about it. He is concerned that they would be concerned. Somehow Epaphroditus heard that they heard that he was sick. He couldn’t just shoot them a quick text or email saying that he was fine. And if you are a parent, you know that that wouldn’t be enough. “Hey dad, I was in an accident, but I’m ok. What kind of accident? How bad? Can you send pics? What do you mean ok? As in still alive? Or walked away without a scratch? Really I just want to see you, to know you’re ok.” Epaphroditus isn’t focused on himself or his sickness; he is troubled over their concern for him, and putting their troubled minds at ease. This word ‘distressed’ is a strong word; the only other place it is used is in the accounts of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane; when he
Mark 14:33 ... began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”
Near Death in Service
Paul confirms, the rumor you heard was true.
Philippians 2:27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
The rumors were true, but it was worse than you may have heard. He was sick, close to death. Paul praises the mercy of God in sparing Epaphroditus, and himself, because Paul cared deeply about this man, and it would have piled grief upon grief to see him suffer and die all in the process of bringing service to the Apostle. Now that he is well enough to travel, Paul feels an urgency to send him to them.
Paul is sending him, he is not sending him back. He was sent to Paul to minister to him, and he was at Paul’s disposal to keep or to send on as he saw fit. Paul is not sending him back as if he had failed to render the service needed; Epaphroditus had fully discharged his duty, and Paul was sending him now to them because that is what he considered most necessary. He is sending him to them to free himself from sorrow, but also to bring them joy. Paul is confident that the church in Philippi will rejoice at seeing again the one they heard was ill.
The Honor of Risky Service
Philippians 2:29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Paul instructs them to receive him in the Lord. This is the third time Paul has used this phrase ‘in the Lord’ in this section. His hope to send Timothy quickly is ‘in the Lord.’ His confidence that he himself will come soon is ‘in the Lord.’ Now he instructs them to receive Epaphroditus ‘in the Lord’. Seeing him show up may have been a surprise, not what they planned or expected; they were likely anxious and grieved that he had fallen ill. But all this is under the sovereign hand of a good God. Jesus is highly exalted as Lord over all, and he can order circumstances (even what we consider bad circumstances) to bring about his good purposes. All this is to be received ‘in the Lord.’
And he is to be received with joy. This letter is saturated with joy. Paul sends him so that they will rejoice, and he instructs them to receive him with joy.
And honor such men, those who come near to death, those who risk their own life in the work of Christ, in service to others. Because they are following Jesus, who in service to others,
Philippians 2:8 ...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
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2024.03.03 Sermon Notes
Philippians 2:25-30; Epaphroditus, Risk in Service to Others
1:27 - 2:4 exhortation to gospel unity
2:5-11 motivation of Jesus’ humility that brings glory to God
2:12-16 exhortation to work out your gospel unity
2:17-18 motivation of Paul’s joy in sacrifice for others
2:19-24 motivation of Timothy’s selfless concern for others
2:25-30 motivation of Epaphroditus’ risk in service to others
-brother
Romans 9:3; Philippians 1:12, 14
-fellow-worker
Romans 16:3,9,21; 1Thessalonians 3:2; 1Corinthians 3:9; 2Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 4:3; Colossians 4:11; Philemon 1:1,24
-fellow-soldier
Philemon 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:3-4
-messenger (apostle)
Luke 6:13; Acts 1:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:7-9
John 13:16; Hebrews 3:1-2
1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:19-23
-minister to my need (priestly imagery)
Romans 13:6; Luke 1:8-9, 23; Hebrews 8:1-2; Romans 15:15; 2 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Philippians 2:30; 4:18; 2:17
deep longing for others
Philippians 1:8; Romans 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:2
distressed because you heard he was ill
Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33-34
he came near to death for the work of Christ
Philippians 2:8
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org