Epaphroditus: About the Man

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(No Transcript)
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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• No indication he was a preacher
• No indication he did any missionary work
• No indication that he made any converts
• No indication that he established any churches
• No indication he wrote any books
• No indication he had lots of money

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• Epaphroditus Aphrodite, the Greek goddess
• His name means lovely
• Aphrodite the goddess of love fertility
• His parents may have been followers of this cult
• Thus, he must have been led from the darkness of
  idolatry into the light of the gospel

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• He was a member of Pauls favorite congregation
• Special closeness between Paul the Philippian
  church
• Established on his second missionary journey
  (Acts 16)
• They stood behind him financially (Phil. 415)
• Paul bragged about them to others churches (2
  Cor. 8)
• Epaphroditus had carried the most recent gift
  (410, 18)

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• He was a member of Pauls favorite congregation
• He was part of the gift sent to Paul
• He took care of Pauls needs (225)
• He was to assist Paul with the work of Christ
  (v. 30)
• Were the brethren in Rome not meeting Pauls
  needs?

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• He was a member of Pauls favorite congregation
• He was part of the gift sent to Paul
• He was brave trustworthy
• Travel in those days could be treacherous (600
  miles)
• Besides the drudgery of travel modes poor
  accommodations along the way, it was dangerous
• Yet, Epaphroditus was selected as capable
  trustworthy to bear the gift safely dependably
  to Paul
• In addition, Paul considered him trustworthy to
  bear his inspired letter back to the Philippian
  church

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• He was a member of Pauls favorite congregation
• He was part of the gift sent to Paul
• He was brave trustworthy
• He became very ill while in Rome
• Sick almost unto death (v. 27)
• The Philippian church was worried about him
• Epaphroditus was distressed at their anxiety (v.
  26)
• He loved his home congregation dearly
• Paul sorrowed for Ephaphroditus the church
  (27-28)

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Epaphroditus About the Man

• He was a nobody
• His name may have had a pagan background
• He was a member of Pauls favorite congregation
• He was part of the gift sent to Paul
• He was brave trustworthy
• He became very ill while in Rome
• He had a determined zeal for the work of Christ
• Not regarding his life risking/hazard his
  life
• Loved Christ the church more than his own life
• The Greek word is a gamblers term
• Gambled his own life to supply what was lacking
• Many risked lives to visit seriously ill or
  imprisoned

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Epaphroditus 5-Word Commendation

• My brother
• A kinsman in Christ (brethren) because
• Same Father (1 John 31)
• Same birth (John 33-5 Gal. 326-27)
• Members of same family (Eph. 219 1 Tim. 315)
• Wear the same name (Acts 1126)
• Promised same inheritance (1 Pet. 13-4)

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Epaphroditus 5-Word Commendation

• My brother
• My fellow-worker
• Christians are to be workers (1 Cor. 1558)
• Created in Christ for good works (Eph. 210)
• Work is essential to salvation (Phil. 212-13)
• We are laborers together with God (1 Cor. 39)
• Epaphroditus did not just drop the gift go
• He threw himself into the work with zeal

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Epaphroditus 5-Word Commendation

• My brother
• My fellow-worker
• My fellow-soldier
• Christians are comrades in arms
• The Christian life is a warfare (2 Tim. 23)
• Truth righteousness at war w/ falsehood evil
• The cause of Christ is the good fight (2 T.
  47)
• We must be set for the defense of the gospel
• We must contend earnestly for the faith
• We must put on the whole armor of God
• We must not get entangled w/ affairs of this life

Perhaps a progression of terms
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Epaphroditus 5-Word Commendation

• My brother
• My fellow-worker
• My fellow-soldier
• Your messenger
• From the Greek word for apostle
• One who was sent on a mission, appointed to bear
  a message
• General term used to describe
• Barnabas (Acts 1414) Timothy Silas (1 Thess.
  26) Jesus brother, James (Gal. 119) Titus
  brethren (2 Cor. 823) Andronicus Junia (Rm.
  167)
• Christ (Heb. 31) One sent with authority

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Epaphroditus 5-Word Commendation

• My brother
• My fellow-worker
• My fellow-soldier
• Your messenger
• Your minister to my need
• Not the usual word for servant or minister
• One who serves the state at his own expense
• He willingly volunteered, not coerced
• Same word used of priests offering sacrifices
• E. bore the offering of the sacrifice that Ph.
  made
• A strong faith will offer sacrifice service
  freely