why did paul not heal epaphroditus

But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. Paul's first burst of gratitude and praise does not exhaust all that he has to say about Epaphroditus. The word of God is God. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Epaphroditus was also a common noun. We as Berean Bible Church need to work at 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. She was the goddess For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 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). act to follow either. God. A shoulder-to-shoulder fighting But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. The answer is: He wouldn't have! All the loving thoughts, and all the material expressions of them which Epaphroditus brought to Paul were fragrant with the perfume of the Philippians' love, 'an odour of a sweet smell, acceptable' to Paul as to Paul's Lord. 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! Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Actually, suppose we regularly cultivate and entertain slights against us or the deeper personal affronts. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? delegate. Welcome to BHSE! 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. These very thoughts are what keep us sluggish and contribute to our feeling frustrated, angry, or worthless. It was used as a sign gift to unbelievers at those times when it was necessary to make PROVERBS 1:1 How can we accept the majority of Proverbs by Solomon when Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of God? We need to labor in the area of evangelism. See Peter and John's comments in Acts 3:12. The reason it is "send" is because he was supposed to be there permanently. They were to receive him "in the Lord." Amen. It only takes a minute to sign up. back" but "send." Paul could not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27) "Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants. Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress. ii.) I think that in our day the church has lost the ergos, the work, toil, or effort that we should be You find in 2nd Timothy 4:20, etc., that Paul lost the ability to heal people, and so on. in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). Many say that Epaphroditus was homesick. He was not just to He has authored ninety-five books. It is a compound word from 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.' would have been sorrow upon sorrow. (Acts 28:9) Then, the argument goes, why was Paul unable to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? First, let us review Epaphroditus mission. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. Together these five titles are an important summary of what the Christian life should be. Why are you teaching. and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. Soon after Paul returned from this journey he wrote the letter to the Galatians (see Galatians 1:6 where Paul writes to the Galatians and says, you are so quickly turned.). This study focuses on that questionwhen did the sign gifts cease? 14:18)! We need to "show" people that we love them by What should they do? We briefly note some general lessons which may be suggested by the picture of Epaphroditus as he stands by the side of Paul. Why does the Apostle Paul use the verb twice in Philippians 4:2? at after carefully weighing the facts. Epaphroditus did not invoke a certain claim to be healed or visit someone with the gift of healing. Paul only calls him a "brother" ( Phil. 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.' He says nothing of his own loss or of how much more lonely he would be when the brother whom he had praised so warmly had left him alone. Paul also had another concern on his heart. Epaphroditus had made a 600-mile journey from Philippi to Rome, an 80-day journey on foot round trip, which was fatiguing, to visit the apostle Paul. In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in Greece, i.e. [3] After dealing with his sickness, which caused him to delay his efforts to help Paul, he traveled on to Rome. be guarded at all costs. All others were not apostles of Jesus So Paul with rare abnegation sent him away at once, though Timothy was to follow shortly, and accompanied him with this outpouring of love and praise in his long homeward journey. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. 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. 0 Responses The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. It means: "messenger or sent one." 29 Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. 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. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Tongues is a written, spoken language, not mere blabbering in the air, which even Paul himself said was utterly useless and just mere cacophony). So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldnt even know that there had been a gift of tongues.. speaks of a common origin. In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. . Why didn't Paul just heal Epaphroditus? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? 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. Christ. Epaphroditus loved the Philippians, who he was representing, and Paul, who he was ministering Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.. 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. (verse 30). Three relate to his relationship with Paul and someone's concern for your condition? The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of Gods dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. Of course, our apostle Continue Reading. church each week. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. Paul goes on to say: "My companion in labor" -- the Greek word for companion is sunergos. honor him. 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). We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. No, the answer is that God's program had changed. 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. to worry about me. So, Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker, and then he calls him: "My fellow solider" -- solider is from the Greek word sustratiotes. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? It was still only in part during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the Mystery (see Eph. Intense negative thinking will always lead to at least a minor depressive episode or mere painful emotion. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. If the gift of healing was still in operation, it's unlikely that Paul would have said to use something to merely "help" with your "infirmities." Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. He later returned to his home base at Antioch (Acts 18:22), and later in his third apostolic journey he arrived in Ephesus (his ministry in Ephesus extends all the way through Acts 19a period of more than two years, see verse 10). were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Weak in the faith is another use. parabolani, the gamblers. Bible. Little is known about Epaphroditus (much less than Timothy). Why is there a need for healing leaves from the tree in Revelations? He was the, "Loving Gambler.". mean what ever Paul needed done, he would do. B. The context is that Paul was suggesting for this brother to use wine to help him with his stomach sickness.