Epaphroditus: The Web of Love

Read Philippians 2:25–30

Epaphroditus doesn’t get much press; he’s not one of the heroes of the faith like Peter or Paul or Barnabas, but maybe he should be. In his quiet way he is one of the more admirable figures we encounter in the New Testament.

We only know about Epaphroditus because of this brief mention in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It seems he is one of Paul’s coworkers known to the congregation at Philippi, and he has suffered a near-fatal illness while in Paul’s company. Paul now proposes to send Epaphroditus to Philippi not only to deliver the letter Paul is composing but also to assure the Philippians that he has regained his health.

The picture painted in this short passage is that of a community that stretches over many miles but is held together by the bonds of what Paul would call “mutual affection.” It’s unclear whether Epaphroditus is a native of Philippi or if the church there has come to know him because he accompanied Paul on his visits to the city, but whatever the case, a strong bond has developed between them. Paul describes it this way: “he has been longing for all of you and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (v. 26).

Epaphroditus has expressed his concern for the Philippians because they know he has been ill, and he doesn’t want them to worry. In a time before telegraphs or telephones, let alone Skype and Zoom, he knows that their uncertainty about his condition can grow into a burden on their hearts as they wait for news to arrive. He wishes to ease their minds about his condition, so he has probably volunteered for the mission of delivering the letter. Although he values Epaphroditus’s help as “brother and coworker and fellow soldier” (v. 25), Paul recognizes the importance of allowing his friend to provide the Philippians the reassurance they need.

Paul, the Philippian church, and Epaphroditus are all bound together in a web of love, and love always seeks the other’s good ahead of one’s own. Paul is willing to sacrifice a valued friend who has been helping provide for his needs while he is imprisoned, because he knows of the deep love that binds Epaphroditus and the church community. For their part, the church is distressed because of the rumors of Epaphroditus’s illness, and Epaphroditus is distressed because of their distress. Paul’s solution? “I am the more eager to send him . . . in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again and that I may be less anxious” (v. 28). As if they needed his advice on the subject, Paul tells the Philippians to welcome Epaphroditus with joy, “and honor such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me” (vv. 29–30).

How would you rate the “bonds of mutual affection” that hold together our community of faith? Do they resemble the web of love that we see in this passage? If not, what can you do to emulate Epaphroditus with his self-giving love and concern for the feelings and welfare of his friends? In what ways can you choose to act to reinforce the notion that all of us are connected to one another as the various parts of a unified body? How can you help to weave a web of love in your time and place?

Grace and peace
bob