Philippians 2:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He sends him also with the same praises as Timothy. In Timothy he points to two qualities. First, that Timothy loves them, in the words: "who will sincerely care for your state." Second, that Timothy has earned praise in the Gospel. He praised Epaphroditus for the same thing, and for the same purpose as Timothy. How? To say "brother and fellow worker," and not stop there, but add "and fellow soldier," is to show his great share in afflictions. It also bears witness concerning him to the same thing as concerning himself. "Fellow soldier" means more than "fellow worker." Someone could be a fellow worker in easy matters, but not in battle and afflictions. By the word "fellow soldier," the Apostle showed this latter also. "And your," he says, "messenger and minister to my need, to send to you." That is, I give what is ours to you. Or otherwise: I send to you your own, or the one who teaches us.

"Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier." He sends this man also with praise, like Timothy, and for the same reason we stated above. A fellow-soldier is greater than a fellow-worker, because one may cooperate in safe matters, but a fellow-soldier cooperates in dangers. "And your messenger (apostolon) and minister to my need." That is, the one sent by you to me I am returning to you, for through him they sent what Paul needed. Or else, "your apostle" means your teacher.

And since neither I nor my worthy companion Timothy was able to come to you, it was necessary for me to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker in the Gospel. He is your Apostle and the minister of this necessity, for because of these circumstances I sent him to you.

He also portrayed him as having many merits, calling him not only a "servant," but a fellow-worker and fellow-soldier. He also called him their apostle, since care for them had been entrusted to him. From this it is clear that those called bishops at the beginning of the Epistle were under him, that is, those fulfilling the presbyteral office. The Apostle called him a "minister" to his "need" because he had brought the money they sent. By this he indicates that they are obliged to such service, as are those who serve the community in paying taxes.

Although Paul promised that he would soon send Timothy, because of some delay that occurred at the time when he was saying this, he now sent Epaphroditus. This is personal commendation: "my brother and fellow-soldier," says Paul. Epaphroditus is his brother according to the law, and his fellow-soldier in the army and in the labor of the Gospel. "Your messenger": here Paul calls Epaphroditus a messenger. For everyone who is sent, and sent for the sake of the Gospel, may be called a messenger.

"Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger," apostolon. From the titles given by the Apostle to Epaphroditus, Theodoret and others conclude that he was bishop in Philippi, and they are partly confirmed in this by the name Apostle given to him. But Saint John Chrysostom regards him only as a teacher. The title Apostle corresponds to the Russian "messenger."

If the Apostle decided to wait with Timothy's mission, he immediately sends Epaphroditus back, who had brought him monetary aid from the Philippians to Rome. To him he entrusts his letter to them, in which he calls him his brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier.

As though unwilling to leave the Philippians without his care even for a single day, the Apostle writes to them about immediately sending Epaphroditus to them. He also praises him for many good qualities. In addition, he points to Epaphroditus's love for the Philippians and to their concern for him. This was expressed with special clarity when they heard of his grave illness, endured by him for faith in Christ. He had been sent by the Philippians to the Apostle with assistance, and therefore is called a minister to his need, cf. Rom. 15:16. The Right Reverend Theophan supposes that God had mercy on Epaphroditus in his illness through a miracle by the Apostle Paul. "In Ephesus, handkerchiefs and aprons soaked with the Apostle's sweat healed diseases and cast out demons, Acts 19:12.

Now the Apostle comforts the Philippians by sending to them their delegate, Epaphroditus, who himself burned with desire to see his fellow citizens. While with the Apostle, Epaphroditus fell ill. But God raised him from the bed of sickness, so that the Apostle, already grieving in imprisonment, might not have new sorrow added. Such sorrow would naturally have been stirred in him by the illness of his friend and fellow worker. The Philippians must receive Epaphroditus with special joy, because he did not spare his life, παραβ»λευσάμενος τή ψυχή, in serving the work of Christ. By his own services alone he supplied the services which all the Philippians owed to the Apostle.

"More necessary" means he considered it more needful. In Greek this is not literally how it reads, for the word there is αναγκαιον, "necessary." Yet in the flow of the discourse the Slavonic turn is rather what is expected. Until Timothy's mission and my coming to you take place, at the present time it is more necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. Why it is more necessary is explained below. Here it is only mentioned. Nothing is known of Epaphroditus except what is written in this Epistle. Epaphras, of whom the Epistle to the Colossians and the Epistle to Philemon speak, is an entirely different person. There is no reason to confuse them. One is a Colossian, the other a Philippian. In sending him back to his own, St. Paul praises him no less than Timothy, see St. Chrysostom.