Philippians 2:30

Specifically, Epaphroditus had become sick because of his service for Christ, apparently his service of travelling to Rome and ministering to Paul there. He had daringly exposed himself to danger. [Note: See Deissmann, p. 88.] It was as he had labored for his absent Philippian brethren, to make up their deficiency in this sense (Philippians 4:14-18; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:17), that he had become ill.

Aphrodite (Venus) was the goddess of gamblers. When a pagan Greek threw the dice he would cry out "epaphroditos!" meaning "favorite of Aphrodite." Epaphroditus’ name may have connections with this custom. If so, Paul may have written that Epaphroditus "risked [gambled] his life" as a play on his friend’s name. Paul made a more obvious wordplay with Onesimus’ name, which means "useful" (cf. Philemon 1:10-11).

"He says Epaphroditus gambled with his life, but won, because God was there and ’had mercy on him.’" [Note: Harrington C. Lees, "Epaphoditus, God’s Gambler," Expository Times 37 (1925):46.]

Paul’s emphasis in chapter 2 was on the importance of unity and its necessary prerequisite, humility. For true partnership in the work of the gospel to exist there must be unity among the workers. The key to achieving unity is for each believer to adopt the humble mind of Christ.