Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:19-30
Epaphroditus – Continued
Please read Philippians 2:25-30 for background to this section.
From last lesson: Epaphroditus was a balanced Christian! Balance is important in the Christian life. Some people emphasize “fellowship” so much that they forget the furtherance of the Gospel. Others are so involved in defending the “faith of the Gospel” that they neglect building fellowship with other believers.
He was a burdened Christian (verses 26–27, 30). Like Timothy, Epaphroditus was concerned about others. To begin with, he was concerned about Paul. When he heard in Philippi that Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he volunteered to make that long, dangerous trip to Rome to stand at Paul’s side and assist him. He carried the church’s love gift with him, protecting it with his own life.
Our churches today need men and women who are burdened for missions and for those in difficult places of Christian service. “The problem in our churches,” stated one missionary leader, “is that we have too many spectators and not enough participants.” Epaphroditus was not content simply to contribute to the offering. He gave himself to help carry the offering!
But this man was also burdened for his own home church. After arriving in Rome, he became very ill. In fact, he almost died. This delayed his return to Philippi, and the people there became concerned about him. But Epaphroditus was not burdened about himself; he was burdened over the people in Philippi because they were worried about him! This man lived in Philippians 1:21, not Philippians 2:21. Like Timothy, he had a natural concern for others. The word “distressed” used in Philippians 2:26, actually is more descriptive and better translated in the KJV which says, “full of heaviness” and it’s the same description used of Christ in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37). Like Christ, Epaphroditus knew the meaning of sacrifice and service (Philippians 2:30), which are two of the marks of the submissive mind.
He was a blessed Christian (verses 28–30). What a tragedy it would be to go through life and not be a blessing to anyone! Epaphroditus was a blessing to Paul. He stood with him in his prison experience and did not permit even his own sickness to hinder his service. What times he and Paul must have had together! But he was also a blessing to his own church. Paul admonishes the church to honor him because of his sacrifice and service. (Christ gets the glory, but there is nothing wrong with the servant receiving some honor. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13). There is no contradiction between Philippians 2:7 (“made Himself of no reputation”) and Philippians 2:29 (“hold such men in esteem”). The one deals with how you perceive yourself and the other is from others. Christ “emptied Himself” in His gracious act of humiliation, and God exalted Him. Epaphroditus sacrificed himself with no thought of reward, and Paul encouraged the church to hold him in honor to the glory of God.
He was a blessing to Paul and to his own church, and he is also a blessing to us today! He proves to us that the joyful life is the life of sacrifice and service, and that the submissive mind really does work. He and Timothy together encourage us to submit ourselves to the Lord, and to one another, in the Spirit of Christ. Christ is the Pattern we follow. Paul shows us the power (Philippians 4:12–19); and Timothy and Epaphroditus are the proof that this surrendered and submissive mind (to the will of Christ) really does work.
Will you permit the Spirit to reproduce “the mind of Christ” in you?
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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