"Almost Pauls letters are arranged in our Bible by two principles: The letters to the churches are put firstnine letters from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, then the four letters written to individualsfrom 1 Timothy to Philemon. Spam, March 20 2018 Of all the inhabitants of Philippi at that time we know the names of but three, Euodias, Syntiche, and Epaphroditus, and we owe them all to Paul. he was sick. "valued or honored, to hold one dear or in honor, to prize, to deem precious." And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. But when Epaphroditus fell sicknear to deathPaul was no longer able to heal him because the gift of healing had ceased to operate. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. Epaphroditus' parents were most likely worshipers of Aphrodite. That wonder-workering saints are not miracle-mills? In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:23, look what Paul recommended: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake 25 But I [Paul] thought it necessary to send to you [Philippians] Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need; 26 since he has been longing for all[2] of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. self, to give of himself wholly to others. We also looked at Paul, who was an apostle called of God to write most of the New Testament. Vote Up a uniquely spiritual act. soldiers marched abreast behind a solid wall of shields. with his life to serve Christ and man. After studying Pauls letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, What should I do now? There are several possible explanations for the experienceit may be a psychological experience or even a spiritual experience, but clearly, from the Word of God, it is not the Spirits gift of tongues. The news reached Philippi in some round-about way, and, as it appears, the news of his illness only, not of his recovery. Are we fellow soldiers? sick. (2 Timothy 4:20), The power to heal was present in Paul's ministry as described in the book of Acts, 8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mothers womb, who had never walked. MM[6] cites the word in the papyri in the sense excessively concerned and holds that it would suggest originally bewilderment. The combination makes it clear that Jesus was in great distress of spirit.[7]. How about the Gift of Faith, do we not all have Faith, so how does this work when a person has a Gift of Faith? sisters in Christ in other countries. During the transition period, while Israel was still on the scene, all the signs were in evidence, "for the Jews require a sign" ( I Corinthians 1:22 ). 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. means: "to abase, naturalize, to make of none effect, of no reputation." The kenosis of Christ is the attitude that he had that led him to divest himself of any concern for Epaphroditus was not only a Timothy, whom we looked at last week, was a gifted preacher and This is a self-less man. back" but "send." to, so much that he almost lost his life pouring it out in sacrificial service to meet Paul's physical delivering the money and someone who would work so closely with the apostle would have to be The word "esteem" is entimos, it means: Interested in joining the Ligonier team? the most complete healing is when we are taken home. Then the report found its way back to Rome, and Epaphroditus got home-sick and was restless, uneasy, 'sore troubled,' as the Apostle says, because they had heard he had been sick. PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30Some Bible scholars have asked the question, why was Paul not able to heal his coworker, Epaphroditus? Most of us do the opposite of Epaphroditus, we regard our life as a thing so precious that it is to 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. They labor in setting up the 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. Was it perhaps meant to ask for a clarification of my own comment ? Those who couldn't be While at Rome As we have seen, Paul was able to heal many sick people all through the Book of Acts. Love never fails. And Paul who had miraculously healed so many left Trophimus at Miletus sick (II Timothy 4:20). Paul could no longer heal anyonenot Epaphroditus in Philippians 2, not Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, not Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. The word "longing" is epipotheo, it What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence? John uses this word also in: This word is used of meeting physical needs. Please make sure you take our Tour. The purpose of the gift of healing was not to keep Christians Paul did not need this gift anymore because his authority as an apostle was already established. Whatever your condition is, it is far better than you deserve. next door." Yes, they really had had these experiences. He is mentioned nowhere else in the James (Gal. Hello Restlee, welcome to BHSE, so glad to have you here! What contributes to mental and spiritual anguish? Of note: Reference Hebrews 6:2-3 which says: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. Why are you But Paul feels bad because Epaphroditus feels bad, because the Philippians 7:22-23). [1] Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1992). This is uncomfortable to hear, isn't it? Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. We have no record of any were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. In Philippians 2 we read of a healing that God did after the gift of healing had ceased to operate: Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts. We need to work hard in intellectual areas; we need to toil in study. Epaphroditus emptied himself and Paul tells the Philippians to He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldnt heal any of his closest co-workersTimothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimusafter the close of the Book of Acts. Again, we have no indication whatsoever that healing was his "right" or something which he could "claim." . Paul highly honors Epaphroditus with these Epaphroditus was at the door of death. It is possible for us in the ordering of our own lives to fulfil the great prophecy with which Zechariah crowned his vision of the Future, 'In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses Holiness unto the Lord'; and the 'pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.'. [5] Lightfoot John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, 4 vols. And he wrote to the Corinthians about the gift of healing that was operating in their church during the Acts period (1 Cor. Perhaps over-exertion in travel, or perhaps his Macedonian constitution could not bear the enervating air of Rome, or perhaps Paul's prison was unhealthy. The word "receive" means: "to receive to one's self. The church, however, was not to think of Epaphroditus as second best. The Lord does the same thing for us today, although the little blessings He provides often go unnoticed. 13:8).1. ministry. Historians tell us that he had a very common name. 1. The power of working miracles, like that of foreseeing the future (comp. and thine often infirmities. Paul holds them up as He knew they would be sad and their sadness has greatly affected him-- not his All references have been taken from the New King James Version. Epaphroditus was not distressed, i.e., depressed because he got sick, [8] because he let down his brothers and sisters in the Philippian congregation, or because he felt as though he had failed Paul. We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease? messages, or do what ever Paul needed. That will tell you what an answer is. Why did not the Apostle Paul ever say "In the name of him who says" (i.e., Heb. The words "more eagerly" have the idea of: "with haste or diligence." There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts. Maybe you can't preach or teach, maybe you're not a leader or an administrator, but you can It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthianssee I Corinthians 16:19. somebody around an AIDS patient? Isn't that Therefore, this thinking is the key to our relief. But he suns himself in the thought of the Philippians' joy, and in the hope that some reflection of it will travel across the seas to him, and make him, if not wholly glad, at any rate 'the less sorrowful.'. Then he goes on to say that he was primary reason for Epaphroditus being there was to minister to Paul's physical needs. Whether there were so or no, the exhortation itself traces lightly but surely the lines on which Christians should render, and their fellow-Christians can rightly receive, even praise from men. Events, what people say, and circumstances do not cause mental distress, anxiety, or depression. Following Christ's example, we should be willing to lay down our lives to meet the needs of on Phil no. Hebrews 11:6 we are taught: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Why would he not heal his friend? It is impossible to be sure whether the Philippian Christians thought Epaphroditus had purposefully failed in his mission. >From this verb we get the 'The cup of cold water' given 'in the name of a disciple' is grateful to the lips of the Master. Acts 28:25-28 stands as Gods last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. 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. The first one suggested is the very familiar one of the great uniting principle which a common faith in Christ brought into action. Hardly. Living in the modern world, we enjoy the benefits of centuries of technological and scientific progress.

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