2:25
We now get a digression on Epaphroditus. He had been sent by the Philippians to help Paul. The Greek actually describes him as their apostle, the one they had sent to Paul. This is a reminder that the root meaning of apostle is one who is sent. When Paul describes himself as an apostle of Christ he is calling himself one who was sent by Christ. Paul describes Epaphroditus as his co-worker, for Paul to use such a term shows that he had a very high opinion of him.
2:26,27
Paul had decided to send Epaphroditus back to them. It is possible that he was sent back with this letter to deliver. Epaphroditus had become ill and was distressed about how the Philippians were reacting. He had become so ill that he almost died, but God spared him. Now there are several things to note here. One is that he became ill, even though he was acting faithfully as a servant of the Lord. These things happen. Also he did not recover as the result of an act of healing. No doubt Paul and the others prayed for him, but there was not miraculous healing. Sometimes people have the impression that if we lived as a “new testament church” then everyone would get healed all of the time. This simply does not match up to the record of the New Testament. People got ill, such as here, and elsewhere Paul himself. They were not always healed by miraculous means. At the other extreme, to never expect God to do miracles is equally unbiblical. Miraculous healings did happen, and there is no indication that God expected them to stop. Sometimes miracles will happen.
God had mercy on Epaphroditus and healed him. He also had mercy on Paul, sparing him further sorrow in his already difficult circumstances. God does care about our situations.
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