Epaphroditus: Worthy of Honor

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Introduction

Who is Epaphroditus? We have no information about him other than what we find in the book of Philippians. His name isn’t mentioned anywhere else in Scripture.
Epaphroditus was a Model Servant, a Distressed Servant, and a servant worthy of Honor

A Model Servant

Paul is going to make five comments about who Epaphroditus is. He is a brother, worker, soldier, messenger, and minister.
Brother
Those who place their trust in Christ and Christ alone not only granted forgiveness for sins, eternal life, etc., but we are also adopted into God’s family and become sons and daughters of the King.
Here Paul continues to use familial language when talking about Epaphroditus. He used Father/Son terminology when talking about Timothy, likely because Paul was either responsible for leading to faith in Christ or had such a huge hand in developing him and his walk with the Lord.
Here he refers to Epaphroditus as his brother. Paul is no ashamed to be closely associated with Epaphroditus. He is proud to say “that’s my brother” Sometimes our siblings can do things that embarrass us, right? If you’ve had siblings, you know what that’s like. But then there can be other times when you are really proud to call them your brother or sister. Perhaps they had a big accomplishment, or did something really nice for someone. Hey, that person over there…that’s by brother. yeah. we’re related.
Paul is happy to call Epaphroditus his brother, as he also calls others in this book brother.
Fellow Worker
Paul calls him a fellow worker. The word used there often refers to two individuals who worked in the same trade. They are co-workers.
We don’t know much about the details of Epaphroditus’ ministry with Paul or the Philippians, but we can be sure of this: He was engaged in similar ministry as Paul, because Paul considers him a fellow worker. A co-laborer in the ministry.
There is something special about a relationship when two people haven’t simply gotten to know each other as friends or just met at church, but have served along side another in some kind of ministry. This can happen here at the local church level, within the four walls of the building, this can happen in the trenches of street evangelism, this can happen in para-church ministries.
Every year our IFCA regional puts on a bible camp, and people from the different churches work together to make it happen. People who never would have met, now working side by side for the sake of impacting young men and women for Christ. I’ve only been to the last few years, but others have been at it for literal decades. In my few short years I’ve seen relationships formed over the shared task as children are prayed over, counseled, discipled, and challenged. Its a neat thing to see.
But these relationships are formed when we work together for ministry purposes.
Fellow Soldier
Do you remember the song “I’m in the Lord Army”? I may never march in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery, I may never zoom over the enemy, but I’m in the Lord’s Army YES SIR!
It’s a fun children's song. The song reflects biblical language of being soldiers for Christ. Paul likes warfare terminology to describe the Christian walk. We must put on the armor of God, because we battle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6.
We are called to be good soldiers, who is singularly minded that we might please our commander, 2 Tim 2:3-4
Paul uses other warfare and soldier terminology in 1 cor 9 and 2 cor 10.
The Christian life is warfare. It is a spiritual battle. We don’t fight with swords or guns or other physical weaponry, because the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. Our battle is not a physical one, but a spiritual one.
How does one fight a spiritual battle?
The armor of God helps us understand that. Our defensive tools are things like faith, truth, salvation, righteousness. These things protect us from the onslaught of the devil. We must always have our feet ready to bring good news, and our offensive weapons are the Word of God and prayer.
It is through these means that Paul says in 2 cor 10 that we destroy strongholds, arguments, and every loft opinion raised against the knowledge of God. Sometimes we get nervous about sharing our faith because we are afraid that we may face an argument that we can’t answer. Some people study apologetic methodology, which can be helpful, but the best thing to do is simply become more familiar with what the Scripture says.
So we’re in this battle. Those who have trusted Christ are in him army. We’re soldiers for Christ.
Paul looks at Epaphroditus and says, “that guy is my fellow soldier”. They gone to war together. They’re likely labored in prayer together. They’ve shared the Gospel together. They’ve been in the trenches together. They’ve endured the raging of the enemy together. They are fellow soldiers. Comrades-in-arms.
Have you noticed that though our battle is a spiritual one, it inevitably has consequences in the physical world? Paul noticed! He’s in jail! Paul has endured tremendous suffering! Timothy and Epaphroditus have endured persecution for their faith and message! But, again, they didn’t seek to fight back with physical weapons, but they shared Christ.
Paul was literally a prisoner of war, though his Roman captors might not have realized that. He battled by continually sharing the Gospel with his guards.
So we have a spiritual battle. Physical consequences. And Epaphroditus was engaged in the warfare.
Messenger
The word for messenger simply means “sent one”. Sometimes the word is used in a technical sense for a capital A Apostle, but in other contexts it used more generically to refer to someone who is sent for a specific task. Paul uses the word more generically here.
Here’s the scenario: The Philippians heard that Paul was in need, so they wanted to send some supplies to Paul while he was in prison. Check out
Philippians 4:18 ESV
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Paul was is prison, and had no way to get the things he needed for life. Any care he received had to come from the outside. The Philippians learned of a need and sent Epaphroditus to with supplies to meet that need. In that way, Epaphroditus was a messenger, a sent one, for the Philippians.
From this we gather that he was a trustworthy individual. The church trusted that if they gave him the supplies, those supplies would make it to their intended destination. They were confident that he was going to fulfill the responsibility. There was an important job to do, and Epaphroditus was the one answering the call. He’s a messenger.
Minister
Finally, the last descriptive word that Paul uses is that of a minister. Something to keep in mind as we read Scripture is that the word minister can almost always be accurately translated as servant. Sometimes when we see this word “minister” we think of it in a technical sense “oh, that man a minister” meaning his vocational job is that of a pastor. But more often than not, Scripture uses these words more generically to refer to the service that all of us as believers are called to be engaged in.
There are a few words that can be used for minister, or servant. One is the word from which we get the concept and word “deacon”. A deacon is a servant. It carries the idea of waiting on tables and serving in other similar ways. That was the word I expected to find here as I was studying, but that is not the word Paul used.
Paul uses a different word here, and we translated it the same way, but it has a slightly different nuance to it. It has a priestly connotation. Paul used this word for servant in Romans 15:16 when he writes
Romans 15:15–16 ESV
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Paul considered himself a minister of Christ so that the offering of the gentiles might be acceptable to God.
In Phil 4:18 Paul used similar language when referring to the gift the Philippians sent:
Philippians 4:18 ESV
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
So Epaphroditus is a functioning as a form of a priestly minister on behalf of the Philippians as he brings their sacrificial offering to Paul. Thus, he serves both the church, and Paul.
Have you ever thought about that? That when we engage in self-sacrificial activity that we are functioning as priestly servants? We are bringing our offerings to God.
Well, Epaphroditus was a minister to Paul’s need. We’ve already talked about that some. Paul, being in prison had no way to sustain himself. In those days, the government didn’t provide you with food to eat. If you wanted to eat, it had to come from the outside. If you didn’t have people that loved and cared for you, you would literally starve in Prison and that’s one less headache for Rome.
So the Philippians were responding to a real need when they sent Epaphroditus, and he was a faithful servant who came and ministered, or served, Paul in his moment of need.
From these five descriptive words, we see that Epaphroditus is a model servant. He’s a brother, a fellow worker. A fellow soldier. A faithful messenger, and dutiful minister, or servant.
As we keep reading, however, we see that not only is he a model servant, but he is a distressed servant.

A Distressed Servant

Philippians 2:26–28 ESV
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
Internal Distress: Care for the church
Epaphroditus had internal distress: he was concerned about the church that sent him. In his travels Epaphroditus fell ill. In fact, he was so sick that he nearly died! The church back home heard about this illness, and they naturally were concerned about his welfare.
Upon his recovery, Epaphroditus had apparently expressed his concern to Paul about this situation. He wanted to return back to the Philippians so that they might be assured of his wellbeing. Have you ever gone a long trip and then had a parent or a loved one say “call or text me when you get there”? Why do they want to know that? They want to know that you arrived safely. Traveling can be a dangerous affair, and if they receive that notification “hey, we made it” that assures them that everything is okay.
Well, Epaphroditus couldn’t simply text the Philippians “got sick, but better now. hanging with Paul for a bit. Be back after a while” The Philippians did hear of his illness and were therefore worried about him. Epaphroditus had apparently got wind that his church back home was worried about him, so now he is distressed he is causing anxiety to his church. So he says to Paul “hey, I don’t want them to worry about me. Perhaps I should go back home” This is his distress.
The word for distress is a pretty intense word. It’s only used three times in all the NT. Here and twice in the Gospels referring to the distress that Christ felt in the garden of Gethsemane. Connected to the distress is the longing that he has for the church. Epaphroditus loves his church family so much that when he hears that they are worried about him, he wants to return to relieve that concern.
This was the internal distress that Epaphroditus felt on account of his deep love for the Philippian church.
But not only did he face internal distress, but eternal distress as well.
External Distress: Illness nearly unto death
Philippians 2:27 ESV
27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
And then Paul will repeat the severity of the illness down in verse 30
Philippians 2:30 ESV
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Epaphroditus endured great physical suffering for the sake of fulfilling is mission. In those days, everyone understood that traveling was a risky affair. Perhaps there are some today who look at international or even regional travel with concern because of the increased potential with coming into contact someone who is infected with Covid, but that pales in comparison to the risks that one took when traveling in those days.
Epaphroditus was willing to take on that risk. He was willing to face hardship for the sake of serving others.
Paul confirms to the Philippians that he was ill, even to the point of death, but he sends Epaphroditus back so that they may rejoice with Paul at God’s mercy.
It interesting to note that Paul identifies the mercy of God as being upon Epaphroditus as he recovered from the illness, but also upon Paul. Paul’s love and concern for Epaphroditus was so deep that Epaphroditus’ passing would have produced “sorrow upon sorrow” for Paul.
This speaks of an overwhelming grief at the loss of a close friend, brother, comrade. Grief that he was spared because Epaphroditus was spared.
So Paul says he’s eager to send him back. Look at vs 28
Philippians 2:28 ESV
28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
The church will rejoice, and Paul’s anxiety will be relieved knowing that the church will be likewise relieved.
Clearly this was a man who had worked himself into the hearts of many. His love and service toward others had put him in such a place that everyone was concerned for his wellbeing. But it was this very love he had that drove him to this place of hardship.
And that’s a key point here: there is a purpose to his distress. There is a reason why he was willing to subject himself to these difficulties: that he might serve others.
Purposeful Distress: That he might serve others
He had internal distress because of his external distress, but it was purposeful distress! Why was he willing to subject himself to this?
Verse 30
Philippians 2:30 ESV
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
There are two things in this verse to indicate the purpose of his suffering:
1. To Proclaim Christ
The primary reason he was willing to endure the hardship was so that he might do the work of Christ. This is a clear reference to Gospel ministry.
Epaphroditus was willing to endure the hardship he did for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
Sometimes the work of Christ leads someone to prison. Such was the case for Paul.
Sometimes the work of Christ leads someone to death. Such was the case for men like Stephen in the book of Acts.
Sometimes the work of Christ leads someone to sever illness. Epaphroditus.
But when there are souls on the line, faithful ministers of the Gospel are willing to risk all those things and more for the sake of loving others enough to bring them the good news of the hope of the Gospel, no matter what repercussions may come!
This is something we need to think long and hard about.
This year, there were pastors in Canada who were imprisoned because they dared to hold church meetings when the government said not to.
Right now there are men, women, and children who are being hunted in Afghanistan for one reason: They profess faith in Christ.
Throughout history faithful men and women have been willing to suffer sever illness to relieve the pain and sufferings of others during massive pandemics like black plague. Missionaries were on the front lines of caring for Ebola patients in Africa.
Why? Why are they willing to risk their very lives???
Because there are others who need the hope of the Gospel. They’re willing to endure all for sake of seeing one more soul enter eternity with assurance that their sins are forgiven.
That’s the first reason he was willing to die: for the sake of the work of Christ.
2. To Serve Others
This is, of course, very related to the previous point. Epaphroditus was willing to risk his life “to complete what was lacking in your service to me”
Now, that language might sound a little harsh to our ears. Like “come on Paul, whys it gotta be like that?” Paul language in no way is meant to communicate the idea of ingratitude or him taking umbrage that they hadn’t done something sooner. Rather, Paul is expressing his gratitude that they were meeting a genuine need. He had a lack. They supplied it in their service and Epaphroditus was the one who risked his neck to fulfill that.
One commentator I read this week noted that this was all during a time when it was very risky simply to associate with Paul in any way. And here was Epaphroditus. Putting his life on the line. That others may hear the Gospel. That he might serve Paul.
This harkens back to the beginning of the chapter.
Philippians 2:3 ESV
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:4 ESV
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
That’s Epaphroditus.
A model servant. A distressed servant. But distressed for a purpose.
And therefore, Paul says, he is a worthy servant. Look at verse 29

A Worthy Servant

Philippians 2:29 ESV
29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
Because of what Epaphroditus was willing to endure, Paul gives two instructions to the church when he comes home:
1. Receive
This refers to a warm welcome. Welcome him in the Lord with all joy.
Such men ought to be received back into the fellowship of the church with rejoicing over what God has done. From time to time as God wills we are going to have various missionaries come through, sharing of what God is doing where they serve in various parts of the world. When they come, we should receive them warmly and with rejoicing!
2. Honor
The concept of honor refers to recognizing someone as precious or valuable. To show respect for them. Our culture speaks of this for our servicemen who serve in the armed forces. We honor, or at least, we should, those who are willing to to serve in the military because of the great sacrifice they are willing to make for us. I’ve known several people to speak to individuals in military gear every time they see them and they say the same thing: “Thank you for your service”
That’s one way our culture can show honor to our military veterans.
This church is part of the IFCA, and I’m an individual IFCA member. Every year at the IFCA International Convention the IFCA honors individuals who have served with distinction for many years. They have a “servant of the year” and present an award to them, thanking them for their service.
The point is not to place these servant on pedestals as though we are worshiping them, but rather honoring them for their willingness to be used by God for the sake of the ministry.
This is going to look differently for different churches in different places. But it is something we should give special attention to: honor such men
It’s not just Epaphroditus that the church is to honor. It’s all who serve with similar distinction.
Honor such men.

Conclusion

Epaphroditus was a man from whom we can learn much. He was a model servant, being a brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, faithful messenger and minister. He was distressed both internally and externally but because of a specific purpose: he loved others and desired to serve them. As a result, Paul says we are to honor such men. Men who exemplify the commands of Phil 2:1-5. Individuals who live out the example of Christ and have the same attitude as him. Individuals who are willing to risk all for sake of loving others.
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