Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”– No indication he was a “preacher”– No indication he did any missionary work– No indication that he made any converts– No indication that he established any churches– No indication he wrote any books– No indication he had lots of money

• He was a “nobody”– No indication he was a “preacher”– No indication he did any missionary work– No indication that he made any converts– No indication that he established any churches– No indication he wrote any books– No indication he had lots of money

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan

background– Epaphroditus ~ Aphrodite, the Greek goddess

His name means “lovely”Aphrodite – the goddess of love & fertility

– His parents may have been followers of this cult– Thus, he must have been led from the darkness

of idolatry into the light of the gospel

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan

background– Epaphroditus ~ Aphrodite, the Greek goddess

His name means “lovely”Aphrodite – the goddess of love & fertility

– His parents may have been followers of this cult– Thus, he must have been led from the darkness

of idolatry into the light of the gospel

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”– Special closeness between Paul & the Philippian

church– Established on his second missionary journey

(Acts 16)– They stood behind him financially (Phil. 4:15)– Paul bragged about them to others churches (2

Cor. 8)– Epaphroditus had carried the most recent gift

(4:10, 18)

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”– Special closeness between Paul & the Philippian

church– Established on his second missionary journey

(Acts 16)– They stood behind him financially (Phil. 4:15)– Paul bragged about them to others churches (2

Cor. 8)– Epaphroditus had carried the most recent gift

(4:10, 18)

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan

background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul

– He took care of Paul’s needs (2:25)– He was to assist Paul with “the work of Christ” (v.

30)– Were the brethren in Rome not meeting Paul’s

needs?

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan

background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul

– He took care of Paul’s needs (2:25)– He was to assist Paul with “the work of Christ” (v.

30)– Were the brethren in Rome not meeting Paul’s

needs?

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy

– Travel in those days could be treacherous (600 miles)– Besides the drudgery of travel modes & poor

accommodations along the way, it was dangerous– Yet, Epaphroditus was selected as capable &

trustworthy to bear the gift safely & dependably to Paul

– In addition, Paul considered him trustworthy to bear his inspired letter back to the Philippian church

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy

– Travel in those days could be treacherous (600 miles)– Besides the drudgery of travel modes & poor

accommodations along the way, it was dangerous– Yet, Epaphroditus was selected as capable &

trustworthy to bear the gift safely & dependably to Paul

– In addition, Paul considered him trustworthy to bear his inspired letter back to the Philippian church

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy• He became very ill while in Rome

– “Sick almost unto death” (v. 27)– The Philippian church was worried about him– Epaphroditus was distressed at their anxiety (v. 26)

He loved his home congregation dearly– Paul sorrowed for Ephaphroditus & the church (27-

28)

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy• He became very ill while in Rome

– “Sick almost unto death” (v. 27)– The Philippian church was worried about him– Epaphroditus was distressed at their anxiety (v. 26)

He loved his home congregation dearly– Paul sorrowed for Ephaphroditus & the church (27-

28)

Epaphroditus: About the ManEpaphroditus: About the Man

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy• He became very ill while in Rome• He had a determined zeal for the work of Christ

– “Not regarding his life” = “risking/hazard his life” Loved Christ & the church more than his own life

– The Greek word is a gambler’s termGambled his own life to supply what was lackingMany risked lives to visit seriously ill or imprisoned

• He was a “nobody”• His name may have had a pagan background• He was a member of Paul’s “favorite

congregation”• He was part of the gift sent to Paul• He was brave & trustworthy• He became very ill while in Rome• He had a determined zeal for the work of Christ

– “Not regarding his life” = “risking/hazard his life” Loved Christ & the church more than his own life

– The Greek word is a gambler’s termGambled his own life to supply what was lackingMany risked lives to visit seriously ill or imprisoned

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus: 55-Word -Word CommendationCommendation• “My brother”

– A kinsman in Christ (brethren) because…Same Father (1 John 3:1)Same birth (John 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27)Members of same family (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim.

3:15)Wear the same name (Acts 11:26)Promised same inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3-4)

• “My brother”– A kinsman in Christ (brethren) because…

Same Father (1 John 3:1)Same birth (John 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27)Members of same family (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim.

3:15)Wear the same name (Acts 11:26)Promised same inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3-4)

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus: 55-Word -Word CommendationCommendation• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”

– Christians are to be workers (1 Cor. 15:58)– Created in Christ for good works (Eph.

2:10)– Work is essential to salvation (Phil. 2:12-

13)– “We are laborers together with God” (1

Cor. 3:9)– Epaphroditus did not just drop the gift & go– He threw himself into the work with zeal

• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”

– Christians are to be workers (1 Cor. 15:58)– Created in Christ for good works (Eph.

2:10)– Work is essential to salvation (Phil. 2:12-

13)– “We are laborers together with God” (1

Cor. 3:9)– Epaphroditus did not just drop the gift & go– He threw himself into the work with zeal

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus: 55-Word -Word CommendationCommendation• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”

– Christians are “comrades in arms”– The Christian life is a warfare (2 Tim. 2:3)– Truth & righteousness at war w/ falsehood & evil– The cause of Christ is “the good fight” (2 T. 4:7)– We must be “set for the defense of the gospel”– We must “contend earnestly for the faith”– We must “put on the whole armor of God”– We must not get entangled w/ affairs of this life

• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”

– Christians are “comrades in arms”– The Christian life is a warfare (2 Tim. 2:3)– Truth & righteousness at war w/ falsehood & evil– The cause of Christ is “the good fight” (2 T. 4:7)– We must be “set for the defense of the gospel”– We must “contend earnestly for the faith”– We must “put on the whole armor of God”– We must not get entangled w/ affairs of this life

Perhaps a progression of terms

Perhaps a progression of terms

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus: 55-Word -Word CommendationCommendation• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”• “Your messenger”

– From the Greek word for “apostle”– One who was sent on a mission, appointed

to bear a message– General term used to describe:

Barnabas (Acts 14:14); Timothy & Silas (1 Thess. 2:6); Jesus’ brother, James (Gal. 1:19); Titus & brethren (2 Cor. 8:23); Andronicus & Junia (Rm. 16:7)

Christ (Heb. 3:1) – One sent with authority

• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”• “Your messenger”

– From the Greek word for “apostle”– One who was sent on a mission, appointed

to bear a message– General term used to describe:

Barnabas (Acts 14:14); Timothy & Silas (1 Thess. 2:6); Jesus’ brother, James (Gal. 1:19); Titus & brethren (2 Cor. 8:23); Andronicus & Junia (Rm. 16:7)

Christ (Heb. 3:1) – One sent with authority

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus: 55-Word -Word CommendationCommendation• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”• “Your messenger”• “Your minister to my need”

– Not the usual word for “servant” or “minister”– One who serves the state at his own expense

He willingly volunteered, not coerced

– Same word used of priests offering sacrificesE. bore the offering of the sacrifice that Ph. made

– A strong faith will offer sacrifice & service freely

• “My brother”• “My fellow-worker”• “My fellow-soldier”• “Your messenger”• “Your minister to my need”

– Not the usual word for “servant” or “minister”– One who serves the state at his own expense

He willingly volunteered, not coerced

– Same word used of priests offering sacrificesE. bore the offering of the sacrifice that Ph. made

– A strong faith will offer sacrifice & service freely