Epaproditus - a Devoted Servant

Anonymous

‘Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification’ (Rom. 15:2).

When the Apostle Paul was suffering as a prisoner of the Lord at Rome, Epaphroditus came to him bringing a gift from the assembly at Philippi (Phil. 2:25–30). This good brother was truly the messenger of the assembly in Philippi, but he was far more than the mere channel of the saints’ bounty. He did not serve grudgingly or of necessity. There was nothing of the cold, still, official about Epaphroditus. He was full of the love of Christ. This service to Paul was thoroughly after his own heart. His whole soul was set upon serving the apostle and the saints for Christ’s sake. He was bent upon pleasing others for their good, and the example always before him was Christ who ‘pleased not himself’ (Rom. 15:3). The ‘mind’ in him was a reflection of the mind ‘which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 2:5).

We gather that Epaphroditus was an eager, willing servant at the assembly in Philippi. He travelled from Macedonia to Rome to please them by fulfilling their wishes for Paul’s good. He supplied their lack of direct service to the apostle (v. 30), and on their behalf ministered to his wants (v. 25). This willing, graceful, Christlike act is described as ‘an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God’ (4:18).

In his self-denying zeal, Epaphroditus over-exerted himself while performing this service so that he fell sick in Rome and was nigh unto death. This gave rise to another exhibition of this man’s delicate sensibilities for during his sickness one of his deepest anxieties was that news of his illness had gone back to Philippi. He grieved to be, though unintentionally and unavoidably, the cause of sorrow to them. What tender consideration! What gracious concern lest others should be burdened on his account! What thorough unselfishness! Truly Epaphroditus was a man of rare spirit.

Paul recognised the exceptional devotion of this man and records it imperishably in this epistle for the emulation of saints of all time. The apostle describes him in terms which are most striking: ‘Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants’ (2:25). He was the apostle’s co-worker and co-fighter, but first of all and above all the rest, Paul calls him ‘my brother’. He was not merely a brother, as all ‘in Christ’ were, but he was a ‘brother indeed’ to the apostle. Hence in deep affection and appreciation, he speaks of Epaphroditus as ‘my brother’, as he also had spoken of Titus (2 Cor. 2:13). Evidently the apostle regarded him as a brother true to his name, who loved Paul and his fellow-saints, not ‘in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth’ (1 John 3:18); as a ‘brother … born for adversity’ (Prov. 17:17).

How this incident illustrates those activities among the members, which, though often overlooked, are, nevertheless, essential to the well-being of the ‘one body’! We see practical cooperation to meet the temporal need of a fellow-member. It furnishes an example of ‘the effectual working in the measure of every part’, and a ‘joint of supply’ connects Philippi and Rome. Brotherly love in Philippi ‘builds up’ at Rome. Reciprocally, love in Paul ‘builds up’ Epaphroditus, then the church in Philippi, and then the church everywhere and always (Eph. 4:16). Neighbours are pleased for their good to their building up or edification (Rom. 15:2). 

We ought to understand the spiritual value the apostle sets upon this loving deed of Epaphroditus, and upon all those who work similarly to please their neighbours for their good. Speaking of the return of their convalescent messenger, the apostle says, ‘Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation [honour]’ (Phil 2:29). Such men are to be regarded by their fellows as specially dear and precious because of their rarity and worth. The chief among the brethren is he that serves; let us remember how our Lord taught and exemplified this great maxim.

But where is the Epaphroditus of today? Where are the successors of Priscilla and Aquila, of whom Paul said that they ‘for my life laid down their own necks’ (Rom. 16:4)? Though faith be feeble and hope be dim, surely love abides. Sorrowful saints everywhere need the service of our love. Is not this valuable virtue of lovingkindness within the reach of all of us? If we will only take the pains to cultivate it, laying down our lives for the brethren will be a practice now as it was in the early days of the church. We are not to please ourselves, but others, for their good, and to their edification and building up. We are to do good continually, specially to the household of faith, always seeking their highest welfare, never sparing any cost to ourselves.

Author unknown[1]

[1] From The Bible Monthly (1929) vol. 9 p. 241.

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From: Truth and Testimony, 2021