Thursday, July 21, 2005

Philippians 2:30

Textus Receptus:
οτι δια το εργον του χριστου μεχρι θανατου ηγγισεν παραβουλευσαμενος τη ψυχη ινα αναπληρωση το υμων υστερημα της προς με λειτουργιας

King James:
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Comments:
for the work of Christ...not regarding his life: Here, Paul uses Epaphroditus' testimony to make the same point about the value of serving Christ that he made using his own testimony in chapter 1:21.

lack of service: Paul does not mention this lack as a criticism toward the Philippians, as if to say, "Epaphroditus did what you would not." Instead, lack only implies the need unmet until the Philippians sent to help, just as the Corinthians ministered to the "want" of the saints in 2 Corinthians 9:12.

Expanded Paraphrase:
His faithfulness is evident in the fact that he almost died on account of his commitment to Christ's work, neglecting his own life to minister to me what I needed and had yet to receive from you.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Philippians 2:29

Textus Receptus:
προσδεχεσθε ουν αυτον εν κυριω μετα πασης χαρας και τους τοιουτους εντιμους εχετε

King James:
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Comments:
Receive him...have such: The Philippians are to do two things regarding Epaphroditus' arrival. The first regards how and why they are to take him in, the second how they are to regard him after he is back in their fellowship.

in the Lord with all gladness: This phrase anticipates chapter 4:4. The word translated "gladness" here is a nominative derivative of the word for "rejoice" there. As surely as Christians are to rejoice simply because they are in Christ, they are to enjoy the fellowship of other believers simply because they (all of them) are in Christ.

reputation: Although it was a sickness over which Epaphroditus had no control which made his journey and ministry difficult, he is to receive honor from the Philippians. One reason for this imperative from Paul is that Epaphroditus was faithful during his illness, both to complete his ministry and to continue caring for others (as evidenced in verses 26-27). As 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Proverbs 24:10 imply, his faithfulness did not begin with that trial, but was made more evident through it.

Expanded Paraphrase:
When he comes, receive Epaphroditus with joy because both he and you are in the Lord. And having received him, have him in honor among you because of his faithfulness.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Philippians 2:28

Textus Receptus:
σπουδαιοτερως ουν επεμψα αυτον ινα ιδοντες αυτον παλιν χαρητε καγω αλυποτερος ω

King James:
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Comments:
While the letter Paul is sending is undoubtedly helpful in alleviating the Philippians' fears regarding Epaphroditus' condition (as in verse 27), nothing substitutes for his presence with them. Physical presence is a part of Christian interaction. Anything else (such as a letter, call, or virtual chat) is only a temporary substitute of diminished importance. See the same comparison by Paul in 1 TImothy 3:14-15. That fact is why the people in congregations actually have to meet together (hence the etymology of the word, "church") in order to be a church.

Expanded Paraphrase:
That's why I was diligent to get him on the way to you in a hurry; so that seeing him again you could rejoice--and I also, I could be more without sorrow.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Philippians 2:27

Textus Receptus:
και γαρ ησθενησεν παραπλησιον θανατω αλλ ο θεος αυτον ηλεησεν ουκ αυτον δε μονον αλλα και εμε ινα μη λυπην επι λυπη σχω

King James:
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.

Comments:
sick nigh unto death: The extent of Epaphroditus' condition (that he almost died from his sickness) is a reminder of human frailty, both physical and mental. Believers often forget that although sin sometimes causes sickness unto death (as in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 or 1 John 5:16) it is not right to assert that because someone is sick even unto death that they must have sinned in order to be in that state.

God had mercy on him: Even Christians often pray with the kind of expectation and demand of positive response that condemned Cain's sacrifice in Genesis 4:3-5. In other words, many pray with the assumption that they deserve a positive response to their prayer. That God's response here (to heal a faithful servant) is an expression of mercy is a reminded that any good thing God gives is undeserved. But it is also a reminder that God desires to give what is undeserved.

Expanded Paraphrase:
His sickness was so grave that he almost died. But God had mercy on him and healed him. In fact, by healing Epaphroditus He also delivered me from untold sorrows.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Philippians 2:26

Textus Receptus:
επειδη επιποθων ην παντας υμας και αδημονων διοτι ηκουσατε οτι ησθενησεν

King James:
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

Comments:
longed...full of heaviness: Epaphroditus' longing and grieving are evidence that the duty Paul imposes on the Philippians in the first few verses of this chapter, for instance, are far outweighed throughout the rest of the book (and here) by the heartfelt emotional desire and satisfaction engendered when believers "esteem other better than themselves." Such emotional completion in the fact of self-denying duty may be part of why verse 13 says God's work not only makes believers able to do according to His good pleasure, but also to will according to it.

Expanded Paraphrase:
Since he is longing after you, distressing over the fact that you heard about his infirmity.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Philippians 2:25

Textus Receptus:
αναγκαιον δε ηγησαμην επαφροδιτον τον αδελφον και συνεργον και συστρατιωτην μου υμων δε αποστολον και λειτουργον της χρειας μου πεμψαι προς υμας

Kings James:
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Comments:
supposed: Paul uses the same word here which is translated as "esteem" in verse 3 and "thought" in verse 6. He is inviting his readers to witness his personal commitment to do the things he has urged the Philippians to do (in verse 3) and which Christ exemplified (in verse 6.)

Epaphroditus: Epaphroditus is not an afterthought to Timothy. Timothy is unique in his commitment to the selfless pastoral and apostolic ministry Paul lives and teaches. Epaphroditus has the same kind of commitment to serving both Paul and the church at Philippi, only not as a preacher.

brother, companion in labor, and fellow soldier: Although Paul humbles himself when he first addresses the Philippians (in chapter 1:1) by avoiding the term "apostle" and choosing instead the humblest term for "servant," he here exalts this errand boy to being a "brother," a "coworker," and a "fellow-soldier" with Paul. Paul has humbled himself and esteemed others more important than himself just as he teaches the Philippians to do in chapter 2:1-8, including through the testimony of Christ.

Expanded Paraphrase:
I counted it urgent to send Epaphroditus back to you. You sent him to me assigned with the task of providing the things I lacked. But to me he is a brother--one who works with me as my equal, one who fights beside me in the battle.