Main Text: Philippians 2:25-30

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

 

I. The context: thinking with the mind of Christ.

A. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
B. Philippians 2:20 For I have no man likeminded (Greek isopsuchos--same soul, same mind), who will naturally care for your state.

 

II. The character of Epaphroditus. (Our character flows from our thinking.)

A. He is Paul's brother in the faith; no longer a man in Adam, but a new man in Christ.

1. Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
2. "Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays." Andrew Murray
3. "Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God's people." Charles Spurgeon
4. "He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God." Abraham Kuyper
5. "Let those be thy choicest companions who have made Christ their chief companion." Thomas Brooks
6. Westminster Confession of Faith XXVI:1. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

 

B. He is Paul's companion in labor (Greek sunergos--with energy).

1. I Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God.
2. II Corinthians 12:14 I seek not yours but to you.
3. Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
4. "He is Paul's companion in labour in the laborious work of preaching the Gospel. The ministry of the word is a work; it is called the work of the ministry; and it is a laborious one when diligently and faithfully performed. The apostle was a workman that needed not to be ashamed, a labourer in Christ's vineyard, and one that laboured more abundantly than others; and he was not alone, he had companions in his work, and this good man Epaphroditus was one of them." John Gill

 

C. He is Paul's fellow soldier.

1. Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
2. Together they waged "a good warfare" (I Timothy 1:18).
3. Together they fought "the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12).
4. Together they refused to entangle themselves in the affairs of this life that they might please Him who has "chosen [them] to be a soldier." (II Timothy 2:4).
5. "The Apostle nobly honored the younger men who wrought with him. He speaks of Timothy as his son, and expounds on the genuineness of his loving interest in each of his converts. He describes Epaphroditus as his brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier. How tenderly he refers to his sickness and recovery, as though God had conferred on himself special favor in giving back this beloved comrade in the great fight." F.B. Meyer

 

D. He is God's faithful messenger to the Philippian congregation.

1. II Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
2. II Corinthians 8:23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

 

E. He is the one who ministered (Greek leitourgos--to discharge a public office, to render official and sacred service) to Paul's needs, a man who made himself a channel for the comfort of God to flow through him to others.

1. Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
2. "There would be many ways of serving the captive apostle, looking after his comfort, doing his errands, procuring daily necessaries, managing affairs, perhaps writing his letters, easing his chain, chafing his aching wrists, and ministering in a thousand ways which we cannot and need not specify. At all events he gladly undertook even servile work for love of Paul." Alexander Maclaren

 

F. He longed for (Greek epipotheo--to earnestly desire, to intensely crave) the brethren; he was full of heaviness (Greek ademoneo--to be very heavy, to be greatly troubled, to be in much distress) at the thought of worrying the church.

1. Philippians 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
2. Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
3. "Nothing can give a more interesting testimony, with what love they took part in each other's concern. We shall do well, to keep it in remembrance as a lovely model of the primitive church. And let us beg of the Great Head of the church, to cement all His members at the present hour in Himself, and to one another, by the same sweet spirit of union, that all the world may know, whose we are, and to whom we belong, by that oneness of soul, which distinguish all the regenerated disciples of Jesus Christ." Robert Hawker

 

III. The responsibility of the church at Philippi.
A. Rejoice at his return, receive him with all gladness, hold him in high reputation; because he is a good and godly man, and a faithful messenger of the gospel.
B. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
C. III John 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
D. "Those who truly love Christ, and are hearty in the interests of His kingdom, will think it very well worth their while to hazard their health and life to do Him service, and promote the edification of His church." Matthew Henry