Philippians 2:25-27

25. But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need; 26. since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick; 27. for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Translation and Paraphrase

25. But I regarded (it as) necessary to send Epaphroditus (back) to you. (He is to me my) brother, and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier; and (certainly he is) your messenger (apostle!) and minister to my need.
26. (I am sending him back now) because he has been longing for you all, and (has been) distressed (like one away from homehomesick!), because you heard that he was sick (and he did not want you to be worrying about him,)
27. For indeed he has been sick (so sick he was) near to (the point of) death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also upon me also, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow (the sorrow of his death heaped upon my other burdens).

Notes

1.

This section about Epaphroditus reaches an apex in Christian courtesy. It is so worded that Epaphroditus did not need to feel any embarrassment in returning, and the Philippians could receive him back with appreciation for what he had done in their behalf for Paul, and with no resentment at his returning. Courteous and true words like these of Paul are always befitting.

2.

Evidently when the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to Paul to deliver their offering they intended for Epaphroditus to remain there with Paul to serve Paul on their behalf. For Epaphroditus to return home after a short time would raise many questions and perhaps some misunderstandings (they are always easy to raise!). Paul therefore wrote this paragraph to explain his sending Epaphroditus back.

3.

Observe the complimentary titles bestowed upon Epaphroditus: brother, fellow-worker, fellow-soldier, your messenger, your minister to my need. (The Gr. word for messenger is apostle, meaning one sent.)

4.

Epaphroditus longed after the Philippians, and was distressed. He was full of heaviness. (The Gr. word has the derivation of away from home, suggesting homesickness. But it probably merely means distressed or sore troubled.)

The reason for his distress was that he had heard that they had heard that he was sick, and he did not want them to be worrying over him. In this Epaphroditus showed some sterling quality. He was less worried about his own critical illness, than he was about anxiety that the news of his illness was causing to his friends.

5.

Indeed Epaphroditus had been sick, so sick that he was near to death. He had recovered, but the fact remains that he had been deathly sick.

Our being Christians does not guarantee that we shall never have sickness or injury. Paul left Trophimus at Miletus sick. (2 Timothy 4:20). Paul himself was not delivered from his grievous thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Epaphroditus came near to death during his sickness.

Such Scripture portions as these show that it is wrong to allege that we can pray for and receive miraculous healing of all sicknesses. It is true that such favors are sometimes bestowed, but they are not our inalienable heritage in this life. Some might argue that James 5:15 says that the prayer of faith shall save the sick. The scripture in James 5:15 probably refers to those who had miraculous gifts of faith and healing such as were in the early church. No one, not even Paul the apostle, claims 100% healings for those he prays for, as this verse promises. Therefore James 5:15 seems to refer to those having miraculous gifts of faith and healing.

Note that in James 5:15 it is the faith of the one praying that saves the sick. So often fake modern healers blame their failures upon the lack of faith on the part of the sick, but James 5:15 indicates that it is the one praying who exercises the faith. Thus if the healer cannot heal, he is at fault, not the sick.

6.

Paul was relieved that God had had mercy on Epaphroditus, so that he recovered. Paul felt that this was an act of mercy upon him, as well as upon Epaphroditus. For Epaphroditus-' recovery spared to Paul added sorrow (the sorrow of Epaphroditus-' death) upon sorrow (the other griefs and sorrows he was already bearing).