Paul Sends Epaphroditos back to Philippi
Epaphroditos is a character in both Sold Into Freedom and Deep Calling Deep. He was also a real person during the ministry of Paul, but his name may not immediately be recognizable.
Though he is not mentioned in the story of Philippi in Acts 16, he appears twice in the book of Philippians.
The name Epaphroditos (Greek spelling; Latin Epaphroditus; short form Epaphras) is a pagan one. It means “belonging to Aphrodite”—the goddess’s name is actually part of the name. He may have been raised to serve the goddess, or perhaps it was only the desire of his parents. Scripture doesn’t tell us much about him. We do know that at some point he heard the Gospel and put his faith in Jesus, and grew to become a leader and trusted member of the church in Philippi.
When Paul was put under house arrest in Rome, the church in Philippi—now about ten years old—sent Epaphras with a monetary gift and perhaps other supplies to help support the apostle.
While in Rome, Epaphras became seriously ill and, in fact, almost died. In Freedom, he contracts a deadly form of malaria, known then as Roman Fever and responsible for millions of deaths during the life of the Empire. We obviously have no idea what actually happened.
Scripture tells us God healed Epaphras, and Paul, concerned for his friend’s continued health, sent him back to Macedonia, though he could have used Epaphras’ continued help. Epaphras was certainly a compassionate man. The journey to Rome was arduous, but he willingly made it to offer comfort to Paul. When he was ill, he worried about his fellow Philippians.
I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus,
my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier,
who is also your messenger,
whom you sent to take care of my needs.
For he longs for all of you and is distressed
because you heard he was ill.
Indeed he was ill, and almost died.
But God had mercy on him,
and not on him only but also on me,
to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,
so that when you see him again you may be glad and
I may have less anxiety.
So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy,
and honor people like him,
because he almost died for the work of Christ.
He risked his life to make up for the help
you yourselves could not give me.
~Philippians 2:25–30
Clearly, Epaphras nearly gave his all—his very life—to further the spread of the gospel. Most of us are never called to such a sacrifice, but we can serve the Lord will the same zeal.
