Epaphroditus

How Nave’s arranged it

• A messenger of PaulPhilippians 2:25Philippians 4:18
• Sick at RomePhilippians 2:26Philippians 2:27Philippians 2:30

The passages, in Bible order (5)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 5 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Philippians 2:25

   But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:252 voices

   “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus,.... In the mean while, before either he or Timothy could come to them. This man was sent by the Philippians to the apostle with a present, and had been detained at Rome for some time, partly through business, and partly through sickness; but now the apostle thought it proper, he being recovered, to send him to them, who was one of their ministers. One of this name lived at Rome about this time, and was one of Nero's freemen (o), but not the same person here intended.

   “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus - Epaphroditus is nowhere else mentioned but in this Epistle; see Php 4:18. All that is known of him, therefore, is what is mentioned here. He was from Philippi, and was a member of the church there. He had been employed by the Philippians to carry relief to Paul when he was in Rome Php 4:18, and while in Rome he was taken dangerously sick.

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:25→

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2. Philippians 2:26

   For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:262 voices

   “Both the congregation and Epaphroditus were sad because of his sickness. They hoped that they might, on seeing him, be reassured in his recovery of health and that he might be relieved of his present anxiety to see them. For he was their apostle, appointed …

   “Ye had heard that he had been sick - “In this passage,” says Dr. Paley, “no intimation is given that the recovery of Epaphroditus was miraculous, it is plainly spoken of as a natural event. This instance, together with that in the Second Epistle to Timothy, Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick, affords a proof that the power of performing cures, and, by parity of reason, of working other miracles, was a power which only visited the apostles occasionally, and did not at all depend upon their own will.

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:26→

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3. Philippians 2:27

   He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:272 voices

   “Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit. lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow--namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment.

   “Here he also presents something else. He justifies himself before them for sending him to them late, saying approximately this: this happened not through my negligence, but I am keeping Timothy with me, as one who is of one mind with me. Epaphroditus, however, fell …

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:27→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Philippians 2:30

   because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:302 voices

   “To bring forward some examples from among the heathen: Many kings and princes, in times of pestilence, when they had been instructed by an oracle, have given themselves up to death, in order that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow citizens [from destruction]. Many have gone forth from their own cities, that so sedition might be brought to an end within them. We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds, in order that they might ransom others.

   “Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death,....

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:30→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Philippians 4:18

   I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 4:182 voices

   “Inasmuch, then, as the Church offers with single-mindedness, her gift is justly reckoned a pure sacrifice with God. As Paul also says to the Philippians, "I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you, the odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, pleasing to God." For it behoves us to make an oblation to God, and in all things to be found grateful to God our Maker, in a pure mind, and in faith without hypocrisy, in well-grounded hope, in fervent love, offering the first-fruits of His own created things.

   “I have all - Ye have now sent me so much by Epaphroditus, that I abound in all the necessaries of life. Having received - the things - Probably a supply of clothes and such like necessaries, as well as of money. An odor of a sweet smell - Alluding to the sacrifices offered up under the law. With what ye have done to me, his servant, God is well pleased. See Eph 5:2, and the note there.

   Everything gathered on Philippians 4:18→

   Verse page →Original language →