Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus was a member of the Philippian Church who brought the contributions from that Church to St. Paul at Rome. While in the imperial city, he threw himself so zealously into the work of the apostle as to bring on an illness and seriously endanger his life. Recovering, he feared that his friends at Philippi might be over-anxious about him, and was desirous to return to them as soon as possible. St. Paul, therefore, commended him to the Philippians, in this letter which he was to bear with him. We know nothing about Epaphroditus beyond what the Epistle tells us. But that is enough to reveal him as a man of great beauty of character.
I. EPAPHRODITUS WAS A DEVOTED FRIEND OF ST. PAUL. He took the long journey to Rome in order to bring gifts to the apostle. When there, his arduous efforts were especially spent in service towards St. Paul. While party spirit in following one man to the disparagement of others is a disgrace to the Church (see 1 Corinthians 1:12), devotion to good and great men is natural, right, and helpful for their work. It is well when external adversity only intensifies the devotion. Epaphroditus was most energetic when the apostle was a prisoner.
II. EPAPHRODITUS WAS A SELF-DENYING LABOURER FOR CHRIST. Though in assistance of St. Paul, his work was Christ's work. And he wrought at it till he was sick almost to death. The best Christian work cannot be relegated only to leisure hours, carded on listlessly, and abandoned at the least excuse of ill health. We may not be called to lay down our lives in the violent martyr's death. But the noblest servants of Christ are ready to be faithful unto death in wearing life out with arduous service. Such men should be held in honor.
III. EPAPHRODITUS WAS MOST UNSELFISH IN HIS SUFFERINGS. His one trouble was that they should cause distress to his friends at Philippi. His was not the complaining spirit that makes every one else miserable with its own sufferings, much less was it the mock-martyr spirit that attitudinizes sentimentally and lays itself out to move the compassion of others. There is often much selfishness in trouble, even when it does not take these extreme forms. But the Christian endurance of suffering will involve unselfish regard for the feelings of others and anxiety not to hurt them.
IV. EPAPHRODITUS WAS ANXIOUS TO RETURN HOME AFTER HIS ILLNESS. Christianity does not destroy natural affection. It deepens and strengthens the love of those who are near to us. It is difficult to know how to divide our attention between public and private claims. But, remembering the fatherly love of God, who is the Creator of our human nature, may we not give more scope to the impulses of affection as Divine, and therefore right when purified and guided by Christian principle?
V. EPAPHRODITUS WAS A MAN MUCH BELOVED. Such a man deserved love; and lovable men are generally loved. Except where peculiar circumstances and misunderstandings intervene, it is generally our own fault if we are unable to win the affections of others. God may not always spare those we love. But when he does, we should recognize his goodness in not adding "sorrow to sorrow" and in blessing the tie of Christian affection.—W.F.A.
Philippians 1
Philippians
Philippians 3
Philippians 2 - philippians-2 - worlddic.com