Epaphroditus the link between the apostle and Philippi.
As it was still uncertain what would be the issue of his bonds at Rome, the apostle deemed it right no longer to detain the worthy Philippian minister who had relieved the tedium of his imprisonment, but sent him back to Philippi under circumstances which attest the tenderness of the relation which bound all three together.
I. CONSIDER THE APOSTLE'S ESTIMATE OF THE HIGH CHARACTER OF ERAPHRODITUS.
1. In he relation to himself. "My brother"—as if to mark the common sympathy that bound them together—"my companion in labor"—to signify the common work which engaged them—"and fellow-soldier"—to signify the common perils and sufferings of their service in the gospel.
2. In relation to the Philippians. "Your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants"—doing for them what they could not do for themselves, supplying "your lack of service toward me." He was the representation of their liberality, and was about to take back to Philippi this beautiful and touching Epistle.
II. THE DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF EPAPHRODITUS. "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death."
1. The cause of this sickness. "Because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me." He had overtaxed his strength in the service of the gospel, either by his labors in preaching or by doing a thousand little offices of love for the imprisoned apostle.
2. His recovery.
3. The deep sympathy of the Philippians with their suffering, minister. "He longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick."
III. THE JOY OF THE APOSTLE AT HIS RECOVERY. "God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow." The apostle had already to bear the hard sorrow of imprisonment, but if Epaphroditus had died at Rome, his sorrows might have become overwhelming. We are all deeply interested in the recovery of the saints, and especially of eminent ministers, whose lives contribute to the enrichment of the world.
IV. THE REASONS FOR SENDING EPAPHRODITUS BACK TO PHILIPPI. "I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when ye see him again ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful." They would recover their cheerfulness at the sight of their beloved minister, and the sum of the apostle's daily cares would thereby be proportionably lessened.—T.C.
HOMILIES BY R.M. EDGAR