' (Matt. I believe it is used here primarily of physical needs. In a while, don't be surprised to have this "answer" you've given disappear. man awaiting trial on a capital charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of Paul was imprisoned in Rome for his faith. 1:2) and Titus (Tit. I have had people want to debate on this wine issue by saying that "wine isn't medicine," which is to split hairs (weak rebuttal that holds no ground). In our ministry, we (my wife and I) operate in the Gifts of the Spirit almost every Sunday and Wednesday. In each of these letters he writes of his chainssee Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13. 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. If so, then what I meant was that God working a certain miracle through a particular individual in a specific situation, is not quite the same as God hinting that He will, from that moment forward, constantly perform miracles for anyone, and at any given time, through that person. We'd like to help. Why wasn't Pauls companion healed that day, I have no clue. This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. Paul says, in essence: "I will continue to do those signs IF God permit." What to do? Spam, November 06 2014 Vote Up Possibly there were in Philippi some sharp tongues and envious spirits, who needed the exhortation. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. Paul teaches that it's the "Word of Faith" which we preach. This isn't to say that God doesn't or won't heal today, because this is obviously not true, but the "laying on of hands" by a man (as a 'gift') has all but ceased, and yet there are still 'healing teachers' out there in the world today teaching a false gospel, having "healing revivals" that come to nought, etc. Anonymous, January 21 2014 Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. 4:18), fell ill around the time Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:2526). teacher who was used of God to minister to many churches. 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. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. It is not confined to teaching. Because the tomb was empty! Epaphrodtus. Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these 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. This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. A place where magic is studied and practiced? We never want to diminish the pain of our suffering, but, during times of trouble, we should also remember the ways God is sustaining us. me." Christ, but they were apostles of the churches: Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church of Philippi. But we read that Epaphroditus was healeddirectly by the Lord: He was sick unto death but the Lord had mercy on him.. So why didn't he heal Epaphroditus? God healed me of heart disease. 4: 19 . The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. 8 Responses It only takes a minute to sign up. God owes us nothing! Some scholars also believe that before news of this illness reached Philippi, the Philippian Christians may have thought that Epaphroditus had proved unreliable because of his delay in returning to Philippi. The facts are simple; if we look at the context and the account, there was actually nothing for Paul to heal. 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. 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. The words "not regarding" are from the Greek word parabouleuomai. In fact, we are so accustomed to recovering from sickness that we are often surprised when we or others take a long time to get over what we regard as routine illnesses. Not only did He save the former Pharisee, but He also gave Paul extra gifts to help the Apostle bear his sorrows. The congregation in Philippi loved this man so much, they did not want him to die. And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would. All things are possible to them that believe Mark 9:23. would have been sorrow upon sorrow. It Christ emptied Figuratively, it Thanks. Notice that it was the work "of Christ." 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. First-century life, however, was far different. Spam, February 08 2023 His was a singular fate -- to cross Paul's path, and for one short period of his life to be known to all the world, and for all the rest before and after to be utterly unknown. The word "sick" is astheneo, it means: "to be feeble, weak, sick. 2:27). Do you have questions about the Bible? Gospels mercy is connected with healing, because we deserve death. with Paul helping him?". All we can do is guess. Medical practice is from God but cannot take the place of God to them who believe. It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us. All deeds done from the same motive are the same, however different they may be in regard to the material on which they are wrought. 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. Why would the apostle Paul "delay" being baptized (Acts 22:16)? He tells them why they are to with his life to serve Christ and man. That makes Galatians the earliest of Pauls letters. Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers), Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. When I was in the military I met brothers and 11:23; 15:3; Gal. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. He did not act on his own. The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: from death it is mercy. Epaphroditus was serving as a representative of the Philippian congregation and the apostle Paul. Every breath that you take, every beat of your heart is mercy. Why did she weep? Arranging Pauls letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God: The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans. sickness-- but their concern. ESV - Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV). 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In Gaiuss home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. How did Paul and his companions purify themselves in the account of Acts 21:26? The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. Historians tell us that he had a very common name. What needless sorrows follow in the Continue Reading, (The following is the first of a series of articles drawn from Pastor Stam's book, Our Great Commission, What Is It? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. He was sent by them, he was their him to the Philippians so they would rejoice to see that he was okay. 0 Responses 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." Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! 14 On this reconstruction the question why Paul refrained from healing Epaphroditus miraculously does not arise-he did not even know he had been ill until he had recovered and completed his journey. I don't really understand the question from your first comment. (e.g. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preachI'm sorry, but there is no "Word of Faith Movement." Epaphroditus is one of the less known of Paul's friends. Hardly. Epaphroditus doesn't deserve to live and I don't deserve to have such a We need to be sustratiotes, fighting together. with this letter. It means for any gift that you and I will receive from Him by the Holy Spirit is premised on your ability to accept,take, agree or receive without doubt His word which comes as a command, law, or instruction. plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from In be guarded at all costs. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. This . If the Apostle Paul still had the power to heal why would he leave Trophimus sick, while Epaphroditus was also sick to the point of death in Philippians 2:27 and encouraged Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Timothy 5:23)? He speaks of Epaphroditus' recovery as a mercy to himself 'lest he should have the sorrow of imprisonment increased by the sorrow of his friend's death.' that Paul didn't heal. His name appears twice in the Bible (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). But then, when he wrote but then I shall know he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, to fully know., We could paraphrase Pauls statement: Now, as Im writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosisI know, in part, what Gods message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but thenwhen that which is perfect has comeI shall have epignosisthe full knowledge of Gods message of grace for us today.. Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. delegate. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? goddess of love. Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. In the remainder of this sermon we shall simply deal with the two figures which the text sets before us, and we may look first at the glimpses of Paul's character which we get here. Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? We are to There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble Timothy was sick and he didn't heal him: Why didn't Paul heal his friends? We need to meet people's needs What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Those things are just as Epaphroditus was evidently healed through the Lords direct, miraculous intervention, perhaps via the gifts of healing that some believers possessed during the Apostolic era (1 Cor. In his low, nervous state, barely convalescent, the thought of home and of his brethren's anxiety about him was too much for him. The word "gladness" is chara which means: "joy." But Paul uses leitourgos here. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? Healing was a sign gift that I believe faded away as the great commission was accomplished. Epaphroditus was at the door of death. it this way: Epaphroditus is a model for all of us to follow. 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. great opposition." This is not a rebuke, it literally means: "to complete your service to me." Are Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (Phil. But, Paul explains, God had mercy on Epaphroditus. He didn't want them to He has no hesitation in describing the work done for himself as 'the work of Christ,' nor in using, as the name for it, the word ('service'), which properly refers to the service rendered by priestly hands. Epaphroditus' service to Paul was a spiritual priestly function. No matter where you go you can find God's family. think is a good description of the Christian life in: This is what the Christian's life is all about, building and battling. He hazzard his life "to supply what was lacking in your service toward The gift of healing by the laying on of hands, etc., was no longer needed, because that particular gift was a gift for a sign to the Jews! Paul uses the word sunergos here of himself and Apollos. We are to labor in calling men to be reconciled to God. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Indeed he was ill, near to death. We have also to notice Paul's delicate recognition of all friendly help. He wasn't distressed because he was sick but because the The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. mercy that any of us live. "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus" -- Why? 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). At any rate he worked till he made himself ill. The word "reputation" is the Greek word kenoo, it means: "to make empty." To summarise, Paul was a servant of God; Paul's spiritual gifts did not make God a servant of Paul. Epaphroditus wanted to go back to Philippi so they would see that he was alright and end their 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy. meeting their needs. All others were not apostles of Jesus How many times was the apostle Paul in a prison in Rome? Why would he not heal his friend? All we know about him is what we learn from this passage. When is the last time that this happened to you? The Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving: Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Paul holds them up as It is all the words that we say to ourselves all the time. Although many people have concerns about the cost of healthcare, the vast majority of people in our culture still have access to antibiotics and other medications that can cure ailments that were almost certainly death sentences only a few decades ago. It is argued that Paul had the "sign" of healing but not the gift of healing. In this case, Paul did pray for healing, but his request was denied. No one was more charismatic than the Apostle Paul. sacrificial. church each week. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. When is the last time you set aside something on your agenda Here is Epaphroditus, the loving gambler, risking it all to minister to Paul's needs. parabolani, the gamblers. on Phil no. He modeled the kenosis, he This is no fleshly or "secular" work in ministering to Paul's physical needs, it was spiritual. We are not to selfishly guard our lives, we are to give them away in ministry to others. needs could be involved here, he ministered to Paul in the area of companionship also. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. God. and they sure wouldn't have sent a lazy man. Those who couldn't be guarding our lives and start taking some risks in order to meet the needs of others. 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. He had the heart of a servant-- he was most likely a deacon. He healed every sick person on the Island of Malta in Acts 28. What have you risked to meet someone's needs? he was sick. priestly functions that were performed in that system. 2:25-27) He likely longed to know that they knew of and understood his circumstances. messages that he preached. For many this is a great relief. Vote Up What we do know for sure is that Epaphroditus illness was so severe that he almost died (v. 27). Epaphroditus is Why would he just leave him there sick, if he still had the gift of laying on of hands to heal someone? We are to follow the example of Christ who "emptied Those who work in the tape ministry are my Was it because he had lost his faith, as some would tell us? 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be [f]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he leaped up and began to walk. But we have also seen that with the close of the Book of Acts, the gift of healing ceased to operate. Testament, 20 of them refer to physical sickness. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. Paul could have said to Epaphroditus, "Get over it, they'll live. Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. all brothers, do we act like it? in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. 8 Responses Dreadnoughts are a peculiar expression of the brotherhood of men after nineteen centuries of so-called Christianity. I have stayed beyond two weeks, this is the third year and half after the diagnosis. He is a co-worker, it's speaking of common effort, diligence. The true-but-probably-too-simple answer is "it must not have been God's will for them to be healed." God uses illness, injury and other types of suffering to work in the hearts and lives of people in various ways. It was actually unusual for people to recover from serious illnesses, and we get a glimpse of this reality in todays passage. Apart from Acts arguably Luke or Paul wrote it and Paul wrote the others - does anyone else say Paul could do miracles? Epaphroditus was a godly humble servant of great courage. healthy.
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