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.