Text: Philippians 2:25
Paul told the brethren in Philippi that men like Epaphroditus were to be held in high regard (Philippians 2:29). Why? This passage gives five reasons.
He Was a Brother
- Brother refers here to a fellow Christian
- As fellow Christians, we have a common Father (1 John 3:1)
- We are different from the world (Romans 12:2) – we should treat each other as such (Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 2:17)
He Was a Fellow Worker
- Christians are to be active in the Lord’s service – teaching others (1 Peter 3:15), encouraging others (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
- Work together – better results from the work (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
He Was a Fellow Soldier
- We are to fight for the cause of Christ (1 Timothy 6:12)
- Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17)
- Epaphroditus was not just supporting Paul behind the scenes, though this is important as well – he stood with him in “the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16-17)
He Was a Messenger
- A messenger was one who carried both words & goods – we know Epaphroditus carried support from the Philippians to Paul (Philippians 2:30; 4:15-18)
- Being a messenger requires one who is trustworthy – must be honest (Ephesians 4:25; Matthew 5:37) and diligent (Colossians 3:23)
He Was a Minister
- Epaphroditus ministered to Paul’s needs – not only was he actively serving the Lord, he also did what he could to serve Paul
- We are to try to do good to others, especially Christians (Galatians 6:10) – requires a willingness to sacrifice both time and money (James 1:27; Ephesians 4:28)
