Philippians 2:25 – Epaphroditus

Now I deem it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, yet your apostle and minister for my need..

Paul had just spoken highly of Timothy. The name Epaphroditus that he now mentions is much less well known and, except here, is only mentioned at the end of the letter (4:18). We already saw that Paul intended to send Timothy to the Philippians as soon as possible, but he now sends Epaphroditus to them immediately. With the letter, we may assume.

Epaphroditus (‘devoted to Aphrodite’ >Venus) is depicted here in two proportions. First in what he was and meant to Paul and then who he was to the Philippians. For Paul he was a “brother” and even more: a “fellow worker”. And even more than that: he was his “fellow soldier”.

Paul calls this Epaphroditus “your apostle”. ‘Apostle’ means ‘deputized’, in other words, Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to go to Paul and minister to him in his need. Through Epaphroditus they gave a generous gift to the imprisoned apostle (4:18) and in great gratitude Paul now sends him back to the Philippians with this letter.

Delen: