Epaproditus My Fellow Soldier:
A name commonly used and frequently found in ancient literature, sometimes in its shortened form, Epaphras. Epaphroditus is simply a term that means favorite of Aphrodite.
He has become, however, a key Christian in the church, a sacrificial man who has left his home, his employment, his ministry, his church, his friends, his wife, his children to go and serve the Apostle Paul.
Philippians 2:25-30: Epaphroditus Praised: Philippians 4: 10-19: Philippian Generosity:
Apostle Paul selects: Himself as one model of a spiritual servant. Then he selects Timothy as the second model. Third model is a man by the name of Epaphroditus.
Paul is a statesman and an Apostle. Great Model. Timothy is greatly compassionate like some people. Epaphroditus as a model: He is like most people. His level of sacrificial service is more instructive. Paul is really giving us a strong call to Christian commitment.
He is saying: Live out your salvation in humility and without complaint. If things go well for you, don't be proud. If things go difficult for you, don't complain.
Directly we really don't know anything about him: his background directly. about his parents. how long he had been a Christian. what his function was in the church.
- Paul is a prisoner, a two-year incarceration in a private house by the Roman government.
- The Romans have chained him to one of their soldiers, keeping him a prisoner in his own house.
- During the time he is imprisoned by Rome he still has some freedom for ministry.
- The Philippian church who loved him very deeply, the church which he founded, as recorded in Acts 16, when they became aware of his situation were greatly troubled by it and decided they wanted to help him.
- Realizing he could no longer work to earn his living, support himself in his ministry, they wanted to send him some money.
- So the Philippians collected sacrificially from their people a gift of love and they sent it to Paul and it was taken by this man Epaphroditus.
The Philippian church instructed him not only to deliver the money but to stay and to become the servant of Paul in the matter of all of his personal needs.
- The Philippian church would never have sent a man to work in close proximity with the Apostle Paul unless he was a representative of the godliness of that church.
- We could also ascertain that he was a man with a heart of a servant. For him to go and to simply meet all the needs of the Apostle Paul would indicate to me that he saw himself in the role of coming alongside to serve. There's no indication that he was a significant preacher or teacher in the church, although he may well have been able to do that. It could well be ascertained that he was more likely a deacon than an elder and that his role was more the role of serving than the role of leading. But nonetheless we can for sure know that he must have had a servant's heart.
- We can ascertain he was a man of great courage because he knew exactly what he was walking into. He would know the risk of walking into a Roman prison and being associated with Paul.
- He has become, however, a key Christian in the church, a sacrificial man who has left his home, his employment, his ministry, his church, his friends, his wife, his children to go and serve the Apostle Paul.
SPECIFIC THINGS ABOUT HIM:
verse 25. "I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier who is also your messenger and minister to my need."
My brother. My fellow worker. My fellow soldier.
He means brother in the sense of spiritual birth. They both have the common source of life: They are brothers in Christ and so they share the common eternal life. Paul uses this term for people who worked alongside him in the ministry. (Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 1, Philippians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:2.) in the extension of the gospel. He is commendable not only for his relational skills, he is commendable also for his laboring effort, for his diligence. Paul is commendable in relationship to the enemies which fight against the ministry. This is a very honorable title used on special occasions of honor to a soldier. Its goal was to make the soldier equal to the commander-in-chief.
- Minister to Paul's need.
He did sacred service on their behalf in the life of Paul as he was instructed to do. The money which he brought in chapter 4:18 is called an acceptable sacrifice. - He built a strong bond with Paul. - He worked fairly alongside of him. - He did his share and he was a great soldier fighting the enemy.
What have you sacrificed in ministry to others ?
Are you willing to lay down your life for Christ?