Free Bible Commentary
“Philippians 2:25-29”
Categories: Philippians“But 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; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Apostle Paul considered Epaphroditus to be his “brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier” (verse 25). These two had worked hard together and had fought arm-in-arm with one another against the enemy of all that is good and holy. Their common adversary, common goals and common struggles had bound them closer together in brotherly love in the Lord. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” When we know that we can count on someone to guard our flanks and cover our back in the heat of the battle, we come to love and appreciate a brother or sister like that in ways that words cannot fully describe.
Paul also referred to his friend and brother as a “messenger and minister.” The word “messenger” is actually the Greek word for “apostle,” which literally means “one sent” to deliver a message or accomplish a work. The church in Philippi had sent Epaphroditus to Paul for the purpose of delivering their monetary gift to him, and for personally ministering to Paul’s needs in any way that was beneficial to him. Paul was sending his helper back to his brethren in Philippi, but it was not because he had not been extremely useful to him. It was just that Epaphroditus was worried about them because they had been so worried about him and his poor health (verse 28).
Epaphroditus had risked his life in order to serve the church and to minister to Paul’s needs. But Paul made it clear that Epaphroditus had come close to death “for the work of Christ” (verse 30). He was primarily and ultimately serving the Lord when he was putting his life on the line to serve the Lord’s people. This is another testimony to the “unsung heroes” of the faith. The Lord knows the lives that belong to Him and He greatly esteems the Christians who serve Him with all their heart and soul. We should “hold men like him in high regard” (verse 29) because God surely does. Let the hard workers of the Lord’s vineyard know how much you appreciate them!
Please read Philippians 3:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
Share
