A: Paul did not have the power to arbitrarily heal: only God has the power to heal. Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. 1. Of note: Reference Hebrews 6:2-3 which says: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? - CompellingTruth.org To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Self-talk is what we tell ourselves in our thoughts. Epaphroditus. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? May we not further draw from Paul's words here a lesson as to the honour due to Christian workers? The Philippian church would not have trusted a novice with Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. In verses 26-28, we are given the reasons for Look at the rest of the verse: "was Now we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in RomeEphesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippiansand we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. Many in this movement even say shocking claims such as the erroneous idea that being poor is a sin, and that if you are sick, "it's your fault that you're sick." You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church messages that he preached. What to do? The Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving: Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! I subscribe to the view that the reason is because the gifts that he was performing in the early days was a "sign to the Jews"; not all spiritual gifts are still in operation today; or, they aren't necessarily "needed." 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.' Epaphroditus who was to stay at Rome and help Paul in any way he could. Paul could no longer heal anyonenot Epaphroditus in Philippians 2, not Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, not Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. We don't The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. co-laborer with Paul, but with God. and stand against the social evils of our day. 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. fulfilling our mission statement: "To influence friends who are living in spiritual darkness that with Paul helping him?". 1:1, 15-19). 8 Responses 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! The reason that I'm stressing this is because I want As a result, Paul says that he will rejoice in his infirmitiesa word normally used for various illnesses. Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. Fortunately for both Epaphroditus and Paul, God was merciful and intervened in the situation by healing Epaphroditus. at after carefully weighing the facts. We may further note the intensity of Paul's sympathy. The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible and What Can We Learn from Him? 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. This is not to say that medicines are not good or doctors are not helpful. Philippians 2:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV). Paul thought that chastity was best, but realized that most people have natural sexual desires. Does God Want to Heal Everyone? by Don Stewart - Blue Letter Bible View all posts by Christian Publishing House, UASV DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022. The context is that Paul was suggesting for this brother to use wine to help him with his stomach sickness. 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! great opposition." Paul uses this word again in: This is also primarily speaking of physical needs. We are co-laborers. There are very many Christian workers who never get their due of recognition and welcome from their brethren, and there are many who get far more of both than belongs to them, and both they and the crowds who bring them adulation would be freed from dangers, which can scarcely be over-stated, if the spirit of Paul's warm-hearted praise of Epaphroditus were kept in view. able to defend doctrine. What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the If Epaphroditus were 'received in the Lord,' there would be no foolish and hurtful adulation of him, nor prostration before him, but he would be recognised as but the instrument through which the true Helper worked, and not he, but the Grace of Christ in him would finally receive the praise. sisters in Christ in other countries. We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Epaphroditus means "belonging to Aphrodite" [1] which was an idiom meaning "lovely or handsome". It is not confined to My question: If a man believes in his heart and confesses with his mouth Jesus Christ and Him risen, he is Born Again, saved. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preachI'm sorry, but there is no "Word of Faith Movement." Epaphroditus was at the door of death. 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. Paul also had another concern on his heart. 0 Responses And in the Acts Epistles we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. It's hard to identify with him and his It means: "messenger or sent one." 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. All through the Book of Acts Paul had only gnosis, partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word epignosishe had now received that full knowledge which he didnt have when he wrote to the Corinthians: For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (Col. 2:1-2). Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. 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. 4 Life Lessons from Epaphroditus | Josh Daffern - New Wineskins The summary of the whole thing I have written here is that if you believe in the word of God all things are possible. The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." We won't help someone in trouble because we're afraid we might get hurt or even killed. There were only 14 apostles in the official sense, the 12 plus Paul and And are we offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through our service? In a while, don't be surprised to have this "answer" you've given disappear. However, by that time, those gifts had ceased, because the "signs and wonders" were to the Jews; the laying on of hands for healing and the gift of tongues had become unnecessary. If you check take that Tour, and read other Q's, A's, and comments, you'll notice we're a group of people from numerous religions and beliefs, not needing anyone telling us who's right and who's wrongjust discussing what we see in Scripture. Testament use of this word. He was in the first place Paul's helper in the Gospel, and his faithfulness there is set forth in a glowing climax, 'My brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier.' Why did the Apostle Paul leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. Which apostles did Paul see while he was in Jerusalem after his conversion? In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Christ. me." He wasn't a teacher nor preacher that we know of. The answer is: He wouldn't have! All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc. Paul was quick to send PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? Epaphroditus - Grace Bible Church Fort Worth We know that Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all godly men. Have you ever watched We need to recapture a spirit of hard work in the social realm. ESV - The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. They labor in setting up the 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. 1:4). Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. is not an official title. When Did the Gift of Tongues Cease? | Berean Bible Society Proverbs 4:20-23. The gift of healing by the laying on of hands, etc., was no longer needed, because that particular gift was a gift for a sign to the Jews! Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. The power of working miracles, like that of foreseeing the future (comp. 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? A shoulder-to-shoulder fighting Paul would (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. Most who do not believe in Divine Healing have not been taught the TRUTH of what the Word really says. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. Sustratiotes is a very honorable title used in Philemon 2 of Archipus. 14:30-33). Why would the Apostle Paul insist that married couples have regular sex "except [for one reason only] by mutual consent and for a time (of prayer)" when there may be other factors such as sickness, busyness, or fatigue? self, to give of himself wholly to others. . In believing the word of God, you have to. He provides a pattern that Vote Up financial gift, and was there to minister to Paul in any way that he could; do his laundry, carry ), [6] MM J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London, 191429). teaching. do without." They are spiritual, priestly functions. He was in the second place the minister to Paul's needs. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. Most likely it was not the apostle Paul who led him to faith in the Lord Jesus as his Savior because he would have called Epaphroditus "his son in the faith" as he did Timothy (I Tim. guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? Spam, November 06 2014 Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. Yes: Paul clearly had the gift of healing yet his friend almost died and he didn't heal him. What year did Ezra leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem? But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. The order of these first six books is: In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond. Back to Romans 10: 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. No, the answer is that God's program had changed. The name later came to mean: Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! Are we a sunergos, a fellow worker? In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word epignosisthe full knowledge. 16:23). distressed because you had heard that he was sick." In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatiacities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. The Healing Power: of Jesus and the Apostles ~ by Angus MacKillop Epaphroditus had nearly died in bringing the Philippians' gift to Paul in Rome, but God spared the apostle from great sorrow by healing him. What contributes to mental and spiritual anguish? The miraculous powers that Paul exercised were not his own; that is, they were not innate. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a others. accounted for the success of Rome's armies, they were the terror of the ancient world. But the The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: Speakers: Pastor Ricky Kurth, Pastor Don HosfeldDetails, "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping" (John 20:11). Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. He re-introduces Epaphroditus to them as someone who had risked his own life for the sake of others, even "to the point of death". unto death" -- the word "almost" is paraplesion, it literally means: "along side of a neighbor, This may be the most important message you ever read. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? The context gives us an interesting miniature of the last, and pathetic glimpses into the private life of the Apostle in his imprisonment, and it is worth our while to try to bring our historic imagination to bear on Epaphroditus, and to make him a living man. That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. Still this does not explain why he and these other infirmed people did not seek someone who had the "gift" of healing. we are to pray for the sick that they may be healed. 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. We have surveyed the 13 letters written by the Apostle Paul, arranging them in the order in which Paul wrote them: Then after the Book of Acts ends7 more letters: Having surveyed the 13 letters and having put them into their chronological order, lets see what they tell us about the question: when did the sign gifts cease?