So, Paul says, "I'm sending him to you." Paul's own "thorn in the flesh" is a prime example: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-a-thorn-in-the-flesh.html You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. from death it is mercy. Epaphroditus means: "belonging to or devoted to Aphrodite." 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. Epaphroditus was not distressed, i.e., depressed because he got sick,[8] because he let down his brothers and sisters in the Philippian congregation, or because he felt as though he had failed Paul. 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. We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. Epaphroditus felt extreme guilt as though he had failed in his mission from the Philippian congregation, having to let them down, so he grew depressed. word that has the idea of: "not at home, uncomfortable, troubled, or distressed.". 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. Epaphrodtus. Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. Are we fellow soldiers? that Paul didn't heal. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. This word is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of them of Christ This miraculous healing was not only for Epaphroditus benefit but for Pauls as well, something that the Lord worked in order to keep the Apostle from having to endure the extra sorrow of losing a friend on top of the sorrows of suffering in prison (Phil. (See below left). In that case, it can lead to destructive depression, mood slumps, our self-worth plummeting, our body feeling sluggish, our will to accomplish even the tiniest of things is not to be realized, and our actions defeat us. 0 Responses This is because the word of God is living and active. Miracles by definition are not normative That attitude of mind stands in striking contrast to the heroism which said, 'To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,' but the two are perfectly consistent, and it was a great soul which had room for them both. June 11th 2000, I came to the Lord, He healed me of lung cancer, irreversible nerve damage caused by my lifestyle and replaced 3 discs in my lower back that were gone: vertebra rubbing vertebra. We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. Paul put the needs of the Philippians ahead of his own. One of the most celebrated goddesses of the ancient world. I find the denial of Divine Healing today interesting. titles. Thanks. It appears my previous comment has been deleted, no explanation why. Paul is saying,"God gave Epaphroditus mercy and he gave me mercy also. In fact, it is the words we tell ourselves about people, self, experiences, life, in general, God, the future, the past, the present. The gift of tongues and the gift of healing has ceased. In verse 25, we have a description of Epaphroditus. Faithful service is most surely bought by hearty praise. The name later came to mean: And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (Many of these 'teachers' are a part of the 'Word of Faith' movement, the Properity Gospel crowd, et al, that teach that positive confession is necessary for having what you want or "claim," and they teach that if you do not get healed, or if you get sick or have any sort of malady, this means that you don't "have enough faith." Chesapeake, VA 23322. 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. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:23, look what Paul recommended: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away. He was highly regarded by the church there. somebody around an AIDS patient? 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. 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! 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. In other words, he is suggesting to use "medicine." He wasn't an incredibly gifted man but he was committed totally to Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? The text does say, God had mercy on him [that is, Ephaphroditus], so, in all likelihood, he would have died from whatever ailed him if God had not prevented him from going over the edge into death. 28 Therefore I am sending him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and that I may be less anxious. 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. 1:7)no church had more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than the Corinthian church, yet Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. Keyword: "IF". Paul sent Timothy to the church of Ephesus, which was a Epaphroditus was distressed because the Philippians were distressed over his terrible illness. (verse 30). 8 Responses 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. 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. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church In fact, he would have probably sent a handkerchief or even went to him, personally, if possible, and laid hands on him and healed him instantly. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinthsee Acts 18:11. He was given the assignment of delivering a gift to Paul and staying with Paul for a time, assisting him in whatever way he could in his difficult times. 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]. Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. He was sent there to serve Paul When it came, then the gifts which were only in part would cease. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. himself and God exalted him. He's probably one of the greatest Christians that ever lived. He was troubled because they heard that Epaphroditus was at the door of death. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. We need to know and be See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. He heals according to His will today. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). adherents? Those who couldn't be That was one less thing Paul had to be concerned about (2:26-27). At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. In the We need to labor in the area of evangelism. What did the apostle Paul use the gift of tongues for? Epaphroditus was a Christian who lived in Philippi. Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? Instead, God graciously healed him in this instance. 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." The reason Epaphroditus was not healed is not stated in the text. His level of sacrificial service becomes very instructive to us. Paul was quick to send Paul was a great theologian, he knew that death for a Christian was a promotion, an end of pain We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH ABOUT ________? 61 ( Acts 28:8 ), it may be that the special apostolic gift of healing (cf. We have no reason to suppose that Epaphroditus took part with Paul in his more properly apostolic work, and the fact that the purely material help, and pecuniary service which most probably comprised all his 'ministering,' is honoured by Paul with these lofty designations, carries with it large lessons as to the sanctity of common life. In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. Perhaps over-exertion in travel, or perhaps his Macedonian constitution could not bear the enervating air of Rome, or perhaps Paul's prison was unhealthy. we living as sent ones? The word of God is medicine to our flesh (bodies ). That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased. In this verse, Paul gives five titles to Epaphroditus. The keyword here is "gift." Therefore, if the Holy Spirit did not want someone healed or raised from the dead, no amount of effort by Paul could do so. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. 13:8).1. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosisfull knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col. 1:9-12). But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their
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