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Lesson Thirteen: Epaphroditus the Minister, Phil. 2:25-30
April 1, 2019
READ Phil. 2:25-30. Here at the end of Chapter two Paul presents three examples for the church at Philippi to observe and emulate. The first was Paul, himself. He is the humble servant of the Lord Jesus, who in many of his letters referred to himself as a "bond-servant", a household slave serving Christ. To the Philippians Paul thought of himself as a "drink offering, poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith." (Phil. 2:17) He always considered himself, "The least of the Apostles, not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (1 Cor. 15:9)
In our last lesson he presented Timothy, who had the model of Christian character. He is "like-minded with Paul and with Christ." (Phil. 2:20) He is the "one who sincerely cares for your state". (Phil. 2:20) This word "cares" in the Greek is defined as a "strong concern leading to worry". Literally Timothy worried over his flock. Paul also tells us that at a time when "all seek their own", Timothy was "always seeking the things Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:21)
So now Paul presents his third example to the church at Philippi. It is their own minister Epaphroditus. He had been the messenger who had brought their gift to Paul in Rome. He apparently was expected to stay and minister to Paul. Perhaps until his expected release by Caesar. (Phil. 2:23)
Everything we know about this man is found here in Philippians. His name Epaphroditus references the Grecian goddess Aphroditi. His name means "lovely" or "favored of Aphroditi". He had traveled over 4,600 miles from Philippi to Rome. A trip which by sea would take at least two months with the best sailing conditions.
Shortly after his arrival in Rome he fell deathly ill. And after his recovery Paul sent him back to his church. Partly because of their concern over him and partly because Paul felt it "necessary"
(Phil. 2:25)
It is here in verse 25 that Paul honors Epaphroditus with five titles. Each one is noble and complimentary. Each one speaks volumes about this man who was worth being imitated by all who are in Christ. Each one is a quality of an effective minister for Christ Jesus.
First is he is "a brother." It is by God's design that all who are in Christ's Church are called "brothers" and "sisters". We are God's children. In 1 Jn. 3:1, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." This affection for others in the body of Christ is later in 1 Jn. 3:10 said to be a quality that distinguishes the Christian from one who is a child of the devil. "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are made manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother."
He has risked his own life to come and minister to Paul. He nearly died. He knew it was a very long trip filled with danger and uncertainty, but still he came. Read Jn. 15:11-13. Here Jesus is teaching His disciples how they should love one another. The greatest sign of love is this, "than to lay down one's life for his friends." True love beloved. It was alive and well in Epaphroditus.
Next Paul says of Epaphroditus that he is "my fellow worker". This word rendered worker appears thirteen times in the NT. Each time it is used to identify one who is in ministry or service to Christ. By saying he is a "fellow worker", Paul affirms Epaphroditus as an equal.
This tells us as much about Paul's humility as it does about Epaphroditus' status. Remember how Paul felt about himself as an Apostle? "For I am the least of the Apostles, who am not worthy to be called an Apostle." (1 Cor. 15:9) Paul could have flaunted his position and authority over Epaphroditus, but he didn't. He valued him as a minister. For this reason he felt it necessary to send him back to his church. His church needed him more than Paul needed him.
Then Paul calls him a "fellow soldier." But the Greek word here for soldier (systratioten) implies one who is a "strategist". One who has a plan to defeat an enemy. This word is also used to describe "Archippus our fellow soldier" in (Philemon 2). Epaphroditus is not an enlisted man in the Lord's army, but a commander. A General.
It's really an honor. Here is a skilled minister who makes plans to defeat Satan. Everyone of us should have a plan, a strategy for doing spiritual warfare against Satan. Too many of us have no plan, so we are fighting like a boxer who is "shadow boxing". We do a lot of punching but we are not hurting Satan. Read what Paul said about fighting and running with a purpose in 1 Cor. 9:24-26. He is a man who was worthy of their esteem. (Phil. 2:30)
The last two titles which Paul gives Epaphroditus reflects his relationship to his church, rather than to Paul. He is "their messenger" or apostolon. He is their apostle. This word means "one who is sent". He was the one whom they sent to Rome to minister to Paul. He brought a gift to Paul. Part of that gift was likely a large amount of money. Luke tells us in Acts 28:30 that Paul lived for two years in Rome in his own "rented" house. No doubt, this money helped pay the rent and supply Paul with food and other necessities.
As one who carried this large sum of money, Epaphroditus was worthy of their trust. He was honest, therefore they "sent him." Paul tells us there are two kinds of Apostles in Gal. 1:1, "Paul an Apostle, not for men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead." Paul like the other twelve men we refer to as "the Apostles" was chosen and sent by Christ and God the Father. Epaphroditus had been sent by the church. By men. The same was true of Barnabas in Acts 14:4 and "Andronicus and Junia" in Rom. 16:7. Today we call such men "ministers" to avoid confusion concerning authority and ministry.
Finally he refers to him in v.25 as being "the one who ministered to my need." The Greek word here refers to a priest. All who are in Christ are said to be "a royal priesthood" (1 Pe. 2:9). This is regardless of whether we are called to a formal ministry or not.
As priests we are making sacrifices to God, just as the Old Testament Levitical priests did. It was Epaphroditus who brought the Philippians' gift to Paul. Paul describes this gift in Phil. 4:18 as "an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." Epaphroditus like an OT priest presented an offering to Paul which was pleasing to God.
In the same way Paul reminds each of us in Rom. 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies, a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." A priest makes sacrifices to God. Our sacrifice that we ought to devote to God is our lives! This means our lives should glorify Christ. Paul had raised a concern back in Phil. 1:27, when he told the Philippians, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ." My sacrifice as a priest before God is my life and my conduct.
So Paul presents to us this wonderful man Epaphroditus. He is an example like Paul and Timothy. He is what a brother should be. He is what a fellow worker should be. He is a fellow soldier, a messenger and a minister to others. May we all be like Epaphroditus.
Study Questions
1. What were two possible reasons why Paul felt it "necessary" to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi?
2. "In this the ___________ of God and the ____________ of the devil are made _________
whoever does not practice ______________ is not of God, nor is he who does not ________
his brother."
3. How did Epaphroditus show the "greatest love" to Paul?
4. Based on the Greek word for soldier what made Epaphroditus, Paul's fellow soldier?
5. True or False, an "apostolon" is "one who is sent".
6. True or False, Paul never called Epaphroditus an "apostolon".
7. "I beseech you therefore, brethren by the _______ of ________, that you present _______
bodies, a living _____________, holy, acceptable to _________, which is your ___________
service."