Philippians 2:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then, showing that his illness was prolonged and exhausted him for a long time, he says: "For he was sick, near to death." Do you see how much Paul cares to remove every thought of carelessness and negligence from the souls of the disciples? He does not want them to think that he neglects them and therefore did not come. Nothing can so draw a disciple as the conviction that the teacher both cares and grieves for him. This is a sign of extraordinary love. "You heard," he says, "of his illness. For he was sick, near to death." And that I do not speak falsely, listen: "But God had mercy on him." What will you say, heretic? Here the Apostle calls it God's mercy that He preserved a man close to death and returned him to life. But if the world is evil, then leaving someone in evil is not mercy.

Because he greatly desired to see you all, and was deeply distressed that you had heard of his illness. For he was sick, near to death. Knowing, he says, that you love him and are saddened by his illness, he therefore desires to see you. He wants to free you from the sorrow that came upon you because of his illness. Here he also presents something else. He justifies himself before them for sending him to them late, saying something like this: this did not happen through my negligence. I keep Timothy with me as one of one soul with me. But Epaphroditus fell ill and therefore could not come earlier. The illness was prolonged, and he was even near death. But God had mercy on him. What do you say, Manichaean?

Likewise His Apostle, who said, "I desire to depart and be with Christ," Phil. 1:23, and elsewhere, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Phil. 1:21, gives thanks that Epaphroditus was brought back from the jaws of death. He gives thanks that sorrow upon sorrow was not added to him, Phil. 2:27. This was not from the fear proper to unbelief, but from the attachment proper to love. Is it not even more natural for you, an uncle and bishop, a father both according to flesh and according to spirit, to grieve and groan over the child you have lost, as though torn away from your very inward parts? But I beg you, be measured in grief. Remember this truth: nothing excessive.

How is it, then, that in the presence of the Apostle, who raises the dead, Epaphroditus is found near death? Did the Apostle not pray for him and ask for his swift recovery? But signs are given for unbelievers. For this man, illness was not a loss, but a gain. The trials of believers are various: for one, illness; for another, the loss of loved ones; for a third, the expenditure of money or torment. And if in need he proves steadfast and does not seek help from every side, his merits increase. Therefore the Apostle's prayer did not remain unanswered, but the answer was better than what he had asked.

The Apostle excuses the previous delay, points to the severity of the illness that had visited him, and reveals Epaphroditus's affection for them. He says that he grieved because of the delay caused by the illness and because of his care for them. The phrase "He had mercy on him" expresses Epaphroditus's zeal for accomplishing contests. For he did not wish to be delivered from this life of many sufferings, knowing the benefit that comes from it. And on me also, says the Apostle, God had mercy, by not depriving me of a fellow-worker.

For such is the mercy of the Lord, and we feel it in this life. Therefore we must not hasten toward death. Although the world is a servant of sin, and for this reason should be avoided, still it is not sin to desire to live in this world. And since this desire is necessary, it is rightly said here: "But the Lord had mercy on him." Thus many are saved, and God has compassion on those through whom something concerning the mystery of salvation is accomplished. We also must pray for people of every kind, so that we may not grieve when we leave those who help us in divine matters, which must be accomplished, understood, and proclaimed.

The reason for this haste was that Epaphroditus himself greatly desired to return quickly to his Philippian flock. For he "was sick almost to death," and the Philippians, having heard of this, did not yet know the outcome of his illness and were therefore deeply anxious. "Therefore I sent him the more eagerly," the Apostle writes, "so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful."

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.

The illness was severe and threatened to cut short the days of Epaphroditus. But God, he says, had mercy on him. How did God have mercy? Since everything is from God, the favorable outcome of an illness, even one proceeding naturally, is God's mercy. But one must suppose that in this case the mercy was special. We may think that the Apostle Paul did not look indifferently upon this illness, but turned to God asking for healing. Epaphroditus, of course, had enough faith to be a worthy recipient of a higher mercy. Therefore one need not doubt that God had mercy on him through a miracle by the Apostle Paul. In Ephesus, handkerchiefs and aprons soaked with the Apostle's sweat healed diseases and cast out demons, see Acts 19:12. Something similar happened here. St.