Philippians 2:25

Rather than waiting, Paul thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus immediately. He would explain shortly why he did this. First, he wanted to commend his messenger.

Epaphroditus’ name appears nowhere else in the New Testament other than in Philippians in this form (cf. Philippians 4:18). However Epaphras, the less formal name, appears in Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:12; and Philemon 1:23. These were probably two different individuals, however, since the Epaphroditus of Philippians was apparetly from Macedonia and the Epaphras of Colossians and Philemon was evidently from Asia Minor. Paul described Epaphroditus here in five relationships. He was Paul’s brother in the faith, a sharer in spiritual life by God’s grace. Second, he was Paul’s fellow worker, more than a brother but one who joined in the service of building the church of Jesus Christ, a partner in the gospel ministry. Third, he was Paul’s fellow soldier. He was not just a worker but a worker who had entered into spiritual warfare by standing up for Christ in a hostile environment and boldly proclaiming the gospel.

In relation to the Philippians, Epaphroditus was their messenger to Paul. He had carried their gift to him as their representative. Translators usually render the Greek word translated "messenger" as "apostle" (Gr. apostolos). This word has a general meaning and a specific meaning in the New Testament. Generally it means a messenger and describes such people as Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James, the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:19; 1 Corinthians 15:7), probably Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:7; cf. Philippians 1:1), and Epaphroditus here. Technically it refers to the 12 apostles and Paul, those whom Jesus had specially commissioned with the ministry of planting and establishing the church. This second usage is more common in the New Testament. Many men functioned as apostles in the early church, but only 13 were official apostles (i.e., occupied that office).

Finally, Epaphroditus was the Philippians’ "minister" to Paul’s needs in prison. This word (Gr. leitourgon) sometimes describes the kind of ministry a priest performs (Romans 15:16; Hebrews 8:2). Consequently Paul may have been thinking of Epaphroditus’ ministry to him as similar to a priest’s. He presented the Philippians’ offering to Paul as a sacrifice (Philippians 4:18).

"Epaphroditus was their envoy to him, their way of telling him that they cared enough to send their very best . . ." [Note: Hawthorne, p. 120.]