Epaphroditus is mentioned again at the end of the epistle as the one who brought the gift to Paul from the Philippian assembly.

Paul uses the past tense and says "supposed".

"It was a custom in New Testament times to write a letter from the standpoint of the reader rather than from the standpoint of the writer. For instance, by the time the Philippians read Paul’s letter, Epaphroditus already would have returned to the Church." (Harold Berry)

Epaphras was a shortened form of Epaphroditus but it is not thought by most that the Epaphras of Colosse (Col. 1:7; 4:12) was the same as Epaphroditus of Philippi.

Epaphroditus means "lovely, charming or fascinating". He was named by his pagan parents after the goddess Aphrodite and seems to be converted from an idolatrous background.

That word never left Paul's memory. He first heard it from the lips of Ananias the man who was used to give him back his sight in Acts chapter 9, and gave Paul to understand that in coming to Christ he had entered upon a completely new relationship.

All Christians are brothers but some are brothers in deed! Epaphroditus was such a one. In relation to the family of God he acted indeed as a brother to the believers.

We must realise what this meant in Paul’s day and age. In the assembly there would have been Masters and slaves in fellowship, Jews and Gentiles, Black and white, men and women.

It would have been unthinkable that a Master would stoop so low as to kiss a slave who was nothing but property to the Romans. Neither would a Jew have considered those whom he once called "dogs" as his brethren. But the Spirit of God had brought them into a unity that no one could ever create. All were now one family with love one for another. Master would kiss a slave with a holy kiss and Jew would kiss a Gentile with a holy kiss. This was revolutionary then as it is now. We often forget the transformation the gospel has wrought in this world of prejudice, pride and enmity.

In relation to the gospel, he toiled till he was exhausted. He could also work together with others and get along with them. This is a great qualification in the Lord’s work. Some believers work fine by themselves but are awful in a team as they always want their own way.

A sea captain and his chief engineer were arguing over who was most important to the ship. To prove their point to each other, they decided to swap places. The chief engineer ascended to the bridge, and the captain went to the engine room.

Several hours later, the captain suddenly appeared on deck covered with oil and dirt. "Chief!" he yelled, waving aloft a monkey wrench. "You have to get down there: I can't make her go!"

"Of course you can't," replied the chief. "She's aground!"

On a team we don't excel each other; we depend on each other.

An admirer once asked Leonard Bernstein, celebrated orchestra conductor, what was the hardest instrument to play. He replied without hesitation:

"Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 450.

Sometimes you have to play "second fiddle" to someone else and be humble about it.

In relation to the battle, he stood firm and did not move or desert when things got difficult.

The Christian is in a warfare but does not war with carnal weapons for the enemies arrayed against the believer are spiritual enemies, the powers of darkness that can only be defeated by striving in prayer.

In relation to the Philippian assembly, he was faithful in taking the message out. The word is a translation of the Greek word "apostolos" i.e. one who is sent. The Philippian assembly had sent him 700 miles to minister to Paul.

The word "ministered" was used amongst the Greeks for one who discharged a public duty at his own expense, then it generally meant a public servant or minister.

Happiness is not found in being served but in serving others.

D. L. Moody once said, "The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves."

To be effective in the Lord's service we must willingly take the role of a servant. The disciples of Jesus had a hard time learning this, and so do we. Even the most godly sometimes rebel when called upon to do something they feel is beneath their dignity.

Samuel L. Brengle, a brilliant orator and highly successful pastor, was so burdened by the plight of the inner city poor that he resigned his church and joined the Salvation Army in London. Soon after being inducted, he was given the task of cleaning a pile of muddy boots. This was too much! Inwardly he rebelled. But then he thought about how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. He asked the Lord for a servant spirit, cleaned the boots, and went on to a fruitful ministry among the disadvantaged.

A man once tried to kill Samuel L. Brengle by throwing a brick at his head. Brengle survived the attack, but had a long convalescent time. During that period he wrote many inspiring articles, which were put into a book, titled HELPS TO HOLINESS. The book was a huge success. Brengle's wife would say, "Had there been no brick, there would have been no book!" Indeed, she kept the brick and had painted on it some words from the Old Testament. They were the words of Joseph to the brothers who had sold him into slavery: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."

Epaphroditus was homesick for the Philippian assembly.

This word is used of the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37; Mark 14:33).

The meaning "distressed" (as of not knowing what to do for relief) is borne out in the papyri writings.

He was deeply troubled that news of his sickness reached Philippi. He did not want the saints to have undue concern for him even though he was at the point of death. He felt so bad that they had sent him as their messenger and he was not able to fulfil his tasks.

Paul had the supernatural gift of healing but did not exercise it here. It was not continuous and was not at his absolute disposal.

It is clear that special miracles and sign gifts were now ceasing and we read of a number of believers who were sick. Trophimus (2 Tim. 4:20) and Timothy (1 Tim. 5:23) are examples.

However, here we have a case of divine healing of the sort that even happens today. The Lord shows mercy to him.

With all that Paul was going through in prison, the loss of Epaphroditus would have been unbearable.

But when we think of the Lord Jesus, we see that He was not spared any sorrows at all but the full weight of sorrow hung upon Him and He was known as "the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).

The theories that God wills that believers should have strong healthy bodies, and that failure to obtain healing is necessarily a sign of lack of faith or of yielding to evil spirits, or that sickness is always caused by sin, and further, the putting forth of certain claims to healing power because of the signs promised in Mark 16:17, 18, are all refuted by the case of Epaphroditus.

The words "more carefully" are a translation of the Greek word spoudaios meaning "with haste" or "with special urgency."

Paul was returning Epaphroditus to the Philippians more quickly than otherwise he would have. He did not want the Philippians to be concerned about his health and he also was willing to go home. Often in times of sickness abroad we feel homesick. For the good of both he sends him back.

They would be able to rejoice to see him as one back from the dead.

Paul was concerned about his condition and would rather have him back home where he could be properly cared for rather than in a prison.

His first sorrow of imprisonment remains and he reminds them of it.

The word "receive" is the Greek word dechomai which has the emphasis of "welcome" in it. (Harold J. Berry)

This is the same word used of the Lord lovingly welcoming sinners to Himself (Luke 15:2) and used by Luke of the Bereans who received the Word of God (Acts 17:11).

Paul wanted them to receive him with all gladness or joy i.e. not to hold back any expression of it but give him the best welcome they could.

He was not a prominent preacher or teacher that all would naturally look up to as far as we know but he was to be received as such for in his own ordinary way, he faithfully served the Lord even to the point of death.

In the annals of history Christian martyrs will always have the highest honour and esteem of God’s people.

Paul exhorts the Philippians to honour Epaphroditus as one who indeed served the Lord to the point of sacrificing his life.

His work was a simple menial one of going on a long journey with a gift for Paul and seeing to his needs such as washing of clothes, providing of food, doing errands yet it is designated as the "work of Christ".

This phrase can be translated "having gambled with his life." The indication is that he knew the risk involved in going to Rome to serve Paul and the cause of Christ but willingly went ahead. No wonder Paul tells the Philippians to hold such in highest honour.

The lack of service of the Philippians does not refer to any negligence but that they could not personally minister to Paul all the way in Rome so sent Epaphroditus to represent them. Epaphroditus could not fulfill his task because he fell ill.

Dr. Howard A. Kelly was a renowned physician and surgeon, and also a

Devout practising Christian. During the summer holiday when in medical school Dr. Kelly sold books to help with expenses. Becoming thirsty, he stopped one day at a farmhouse for a glass of water. A girl came to the door. When he asked for a glass of water, she sweetly said. "I will give you a glass of milk if you wish!'' He drank the cool, refreshing milk heartily.

The years passed, Dr. Kelly graduated from medical school, and became the chief surgeon in the John Hopkins Hospital. A patient, one day, was admitted to the great hospital. She was from the rural area and was seriously ill. She was given special care, being placed in a private room with a private nurse. The skilled chief surgeon spared no effort to make the patient well. After undergoing surgery, she convalesced rapidly.

One day, she was told by the head nurse, "Tomorrow go home! Though her

joy has great, it was some-what lessened by the thought of the large bill she must owe the hospital and surgeon. She asked for it. The nurse said, ''I will bring it to you!'' She brought the itemised bill. With a heavy heart, the patient began to read the different items from the top down-ward. She sighed. But as her eyes lowered, she saw the following notation at the bottom of the large bill. 'Paid in full with one glass of milk!'' It was signed: ''Howard A. Kelly, M.D."

Paul acknowledges this in terms of the contribution of Epaphroditus. He does so on the basis of the principle that our Lord laid down in Matthew 10. To facilitate the proclamation of the gospel by assisting the one proclaiming it is to enter into their work, and their reward!

So this chapter closes having brought before us the example of servants who put others first and themselves last. The Lord Jesus, the greatest Servant, followed by Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus.