Citizens of God's Kingdom: Epaphroditus

At the beginning of this series, I stated that there is not a single, overarching purpose for Philippians. But there was a specific occasion, and that occasion involved a man named Epaphroditus. After explaining that in the near future he intended to send Timothy (or, if possible, to come himself), Paul adds that for the moment he was sending Epaphroditus.

“Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” (Philippians 2:25-30)

So, who exactly was Epaphroditus? We learn from Philippians 4:18 that Epaphroditus had carried a gift of some kind from the Philippians to Paul. This would most likely mean that he was from Philippi himself. He was a member of the Philippian church who had been chosen for this special mission of carrying a gift to St. Paul. In this passage, he is specifically mentioned as being “your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” Verse 30 adds that Epaphroditus had worked “to supply your lack of service toward me.” In other words, what the Philippians couldn't do for Paul because they were too far away, they had sent Epaphroditus to do in their stead.

Not only had Epaphroditus carried a gift for Paul from the Philippians, but it seems that he stayed in Rome to help Paul. Verse 25 calls him Paul's “companion in labour, and fellowsoldier.” Remember that Paul was under house arrest and so there was little he could do for himself. He depended on the help of other people. We know Timothy was with him, but we don't know who else was there at this time. Later in his imprisonment, Paul speaks of how grateful he was to have Onesimus to help him. Having someone like this with him was a great help to St. Paul. But Epaphroditus wasn't just helping Paul since verse 30 says that he was involved in “the work of Christ.” He was helping Paul because Paul was a servant of God and therefore in helping him, Epaphroditus was doing the work of God.

And he did this at some risk. Given that Paul was in prison, awaiting trial, there was always a risk in associating with him. The fact that Paul calls him a fellowsoldier implies this idea that together they had faced the same dangers. Verse 30 says that he was “not regarding his life.” That can also be translated “Risking, hazarding, or gambling his life” That is, he was willing to put his own life on the line to do the work of God and to assist Paul.

And that risk was almost realized. While at Rome, Epaphroditus fell sick. We don't know the cause or circumstances of this sickness, but the implication is that he was exposed to this danger because of his willingness to serve Paul. This sickness, seemingly, is something that never would have happened to him if he had stayed safely at home in Philippi. This sickness was very serious and almost resulted in his death.

It is worth noting, as several commentators point out, that even though on occasions God used Paul to work miracles, this was not a constant, continual gift or Paul could have easily healed Epaphroditus and there would have been no danger.

We do not know the nature of Epaphroditus's sickness, but it was evidently very serious for twice in this passage Paul says that he was “nigh unto death.” He had been very sick and had very nearly died. “But God had mercy on him.” (v. 27) He might have died; he almost died, but God in mercy allowed him to recover from his illness, though seemingly in a natural, gradual way, not miraculously. God had mercy not just on Epaphroditus but also on Paul, “lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” (v. 27) Paul was already in a very dark and desperate situation and we do not know what other sorrows he may have had on top of the obvious ones, and added to this was his sorrow for his friend's sickness. His death would have just been adding to that.

There is something important here. Paul was a man who faced many difficult circumstances and faced them with joy. He speaks later in Philippians of learning to be content in any circumstances. He was a man very aware of the providence of God. And yet he had no shame and no hesitancy in admitting that he would have grieved Epaphroditus' death. You will hear some Christians say that because we believe in another life, we shouldn't feel grief when someone dies. You will even hear some say that because we believe God is working out all things according to his purpose that we should never feel grief or disappointment or frustration when any bad things happen. But here we have Paul candidly and unashamedly admitting the sorrow he felt over circumstances--probably including Epaphroditus's sickness--and the sorrow he would have felt over his death. We also have a similar example in Jesus, weeping over the death of Lazarus, even though He clearly knew that Lazarus' death was part of God's plan and that he would be raised to life. Just because we believe God can work bad things together for good does not mean we cannot still see them as bad and feel sorrow over them.

But Epaphroditus did not die and Paul rejoiced that he had been restored to health. It seems that at some point after Epaphroditus had fallen sick, news of his illness had gotten back to Philippi, causing the people there a good deal of understandable to concern. Verse 26 tells us that Epaphroditus was “full of heaviness” because they had heard of his sickness and that he “longed after you all.” In other words, he wanted to be able to go home and comfort his friends who were worried about him. Paul concurred with this desire and says in verse 28 that he was sending Epaphroditus back “that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.” Note again that personal connection between Paul and the Philippians, and how Paul said his sorrow would be lessened by knowing that they were rejoicing.

There is something just a little odd about this passage. In verse 25, Paul makes a point in describing the kind of man Epaphroditus was. You would almost think he was introducing him to the Philippians, but obviously, they already knew who he was. There may be three reasons for this. One is that Paul is deliberately setting up Epaphroditus up as an example, an example of dedication to the gospel--this certainly would seem to be part of it. Barclay suggests another reason--that Paul was afraid some of the Philippians would look down on Epaphroditus for leaving Paul and coming back to Philippi. After all, they had sent him to Rome to work with Paul, to fulfill a special mission for them. And there might be some who saw him as a quitter who gave up after things got difficult. Or, conversely, there might have been those who thought Paul, by sending Epaphroditus back, was rejecting the Philippians' decision to send him in the first place--was saying that he didn't approve of their messenger. And so, to head off this difficulty, Paul went out of his way to build up Epaphroditus.

In verse 25, Paul uses three terms for Epaphroditus which seem to go together: “my brother and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier.” They were one in affection, in work, and in danger. (see Robertson) In verse 29, Paul goes further, making a point of saying they should “hold such in reputation” or, as NET Bible puts it, “honor people like him.” And the reason that “for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life.” For the sake of Christ, of Paul, and of the Philippians, Epaphroditus had been willing to risk his own life, a risk that was very nearly realized, which is why Paul says he was worthy of high honor. Because he was dedicated to the fellowship of the gospel, putting the cause of Christ before his own interests. Chapter 2 here comes full circle. It began with an exhortation not to be so interested in our own affairs that we lose sight of the work of Christ. And it ends with a picture of a man so interested in the work of Christ that he was willing to sacrifice his own interests to fulfill it.