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fellow-soldier. The name of Epaph roditus reveals his heathen origin, his name being derived from that of Aphrodite, one of the vilest of the heathen goddesses. Paul further speaks of Epaphroditus as “ your messenger and minister to my need.” The words for both “ messenger” and “ minister” are words of dignified meaning, that for “ messenger”, being “ apostle” and that for “ minister” a word used for persons serving religious functions and for magistrates. WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9th. Phil. 2:26-28. Whil4 Timothy was waiting to learn the issue regarding Paul, Paul counted it necessary to send Epaphroditus at once to the Philippians. He probably carried this letter with him. The reason why it was necessary for Epaphroditus to go at once was that he so longed for all the saints in Philippi. By saying, “ for you all” Paul desired to bring out the fact that Epaphroditus was inter ested in those belonging to all parties. Epaphroditus was naturally a man of great affectionateness. Furthermore he was “ sore troubled” (a very strong word, the one used of Christ in Geth- semane, Matt. 26:37, and translated in that passage “ very heavy” in the Auth orized Version, but in the Revised Version, as here, “ sore troubled” ), because they had heard that he was sick. He was not troubled because of his own sickness but because of their hearing of it and their consequent con stant worry. This gives us a glimpse of a noble unselfish and gently sensi tive character. Epaphroditus had indeed been sick, very nigh unto death. God had raised him up. Paul speaks of this as an act of mercy toward Epaph roditus, for while it is gain to die (ch. 1:21), nevertheless, it is a mercy to live and labor longer and lay up a more abundant reward in heaven. Paul says that it was also an act of mercy toward Paul himself, for Paul himself was a man to whose intensely affectionate heart the death of a friend would he great pain. For Epaphroditus to have died under present circumstances would have been another great sorrow added to the sorrow already great. This sor row God had.spared Paul as he often spares us; but as' Epaphroditus had been so near death and the saints at Philippi were anxious about him, Paul sent him “ the more diligently.” He wished them to see with their own eyes (for that is all that would have satis fied his own heart under similar cir-
whom he refers here. Demas was at Rome at about this time (Col. 4:14; Phile. 24). Of course, “ they all” does not refer to all Christians at Rome (Epaphroditus, for example, v. 25), hut to all who were available for this .mission. Timothy was utterly differ ent. MONDAY, Oct. 7th. Phil. 2:22-24. The saints in Philippi knew by per sonal observation of Timothy’s life and service in Philippi and knew that how ever many others might seek their own, that he sought “ the things of Jesus Christ.” They knew also that Timothy had served with. Paul “ in furtherance of the Gospel,'” “ as a child serveth a father.” Paul puts this very tenderly and no other companion or convert of Paul’s seems to have occupied quite thè place in his affections that Timothy did. This comes out also in the epistles to Timothy, which could he wisely read at this point. “ Him (more exactly, This one) therefore (not someone less worthy),” Paul says, “ I hope to send forthwith (immediately, the imme diately in the Greek is very emphatic), as soon as I shall see how it will go with me.” ; Paul was confident that he would not he executed at this time, hut he desired to see the exact issue before sending Timothy. Paul was persuaded (this is the force of the word translated “ X trust” ) “ in the Lord (that is in His union with IJim and hy the persuasion that comes from Him ) ” that he him self would go to Philippi shortly. There seemed little indications that he would, as he was at this time a bound pris oner in Philippi, but the Lord seems to have made clear to Paul that he was not to he executed at this time. TUESDAY, Oct. 8th. Phil. 2:25. This verse introduces Epaphroditus to us. All we know about this disciple is what is contained in this epistle, and for the most part, in this passage (cf. ch. 4:18). Some have thought that Epaphras and Epaphroditus were one and the same person, hut a careful com parison with what is said of Epaphras will show that this is very unlikely, if not impossible (cf. Col. 1:7; 4:12; Phile: 23). What Paul says of Epaph roditus reveals “a lovely, unselfish and courageous man, and at the same time a man of great sensitiveness and tender ness. Paul calls him “ my brother,” “ my fellow-worker,” and “ my fellow- soldier.” It was probably since his coming to Rome that Epaphroditus had shown himself a fellow-worker and a
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