Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Philippians 2:25 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Php 2:25	Strong Concordance	Yet [1161] I supposed [2233] it necessary [316] to send [3992] to [4314] you [5209] Epaphroditus [1891], my [3450] brother [80], and [2532] companion in labour [4904], and [2532] fellowsoldier [4961], but [1161] your [5216] messenger [652], and [2532] he that ministered [3011] to my [3450] wants [5532].
	King James	Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
I supposed--"I thought it necessary." to send--It was properly a sending Epaphroditus back (Phi 4:18). But as he had come intending to stay some time with Paul, the latter uses the word "send" (compare Phi 2:30). fellow soldier--in the "good fight" of faith (Phi 1:27, Phi 1:30; Ti2 2:3; Ti2 4:7). your messenger--literally, "apostle." The "apostles" or "messengers of the churches" (Rom 16:7; Co2 8:23), were distinct from the "apostles" specially commissioned by Christ, as the Twelve and Paul. ministered to my wants--by conveying the contributions from Philippi. The Greek "leitourgon," literally, implies ministering in the ministerial office. Probably Epaphroditus was a presbyter or else a deacon.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

I supposed--"I thought it necessary."

to send--It was properly a sending Epaphroditus back (Phi 4:18). But as he had come intending to stay some time with Paul, the latter uses the word "send" (compare Phi 2:30).

fellow soldier--in the "good fight" of faith (Phi 1:27, Phi 1:30; Ti2 2:3; Ti2 4:7).

your messenger--literally, "apostle." The "apostles" or "messengers of the churches" (Rom 16:7; Co2 8:23), were distinct from the "apostles" specially commissioned by Christ, as the Twelve and Paul.

ministered to my wants--by conveying the contributions from Philippi. The Greek "leitourgon," literally, implies ministering in the ministerial office. Probably Epaphroditus was a presbyter or else a deacon.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus - Epaphroditus is nowhere else mentioned but in this Epistle; see Phi 4:18. All that is known of him, therefore, is what is mentioned here. He was from Philippi, and was a member of the church there. He had been employed by the Philippians to carry relief to Paul when he was in Rome Phi 4:18, and while in Rome he was taken dangerously sick. News of this had been conveyed to Philippi, and again intelligence had been brought to him that they had heard of his sickness and that they were much affected by it. On his recovery, Paul thought it best that he should return at once to Philippi, and doubtless sent this Epistle by him. He is much commended by Paul for his faithfulness and zeal. My brother - In the gospel; or brother Christian. These expressions of affectionate regard must have been highly gratifying to the Philippians. And companion in labour - It is not impossible that he may have labored with Paul in the gospel, at Philippi; but more probably the sense is, that he regarded him as engaged in the same great work that he was. It is not probable that he assisted Paul much in Rome, as he appears to have been sick during a considerable part of the time he was there. And fellow-soldier - Christians and Christian ministers are compared with soldiers Plm 1:2; Ti2 2:3-4, because of the nature of the service in which they are engaged. The Christian life is a warfare; there are many foes to be overcome; the period which they are to serve is fixed by the Great Captain of salvation, and they will soon be permitted to enjoy the triumphs of victory. Paul regarded himself as enlisted to make war on all the spiritual enemies of the Redeemer, and he esteemed Epaphroditus as one who had shown that he was worthy to be engaged in so good a cause. But your messenger - Sent to convey supplies to Paul; Phi 4:18. The original is, "your apostle" - ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον humōn de apostolon - and some have proposed to take this literally, meaning that he was the apostle of the church at Philippi, or that he was their bishop. The advocates for Episcopacy have been the rather inclined to this, because in Phi 1:1, there are but two orders of ministers mentioned - "bishops and deacons" - from which they have supposed that "the bishop" might have been absent, and that "the bishop" was probably this Epaphroditus. But against this supposition the objections are obvious: (1) The word ἀπόστολος apostolos; means properly one sent forth, a messenger, and it is uniformly used in this sense unless there is something in the connection to limit it to an "apostle," technically so called. (2) the supposition that it here means a messenger meets all the circumstances of the case, and describes exactly what Epaphroditus did. He was in fact sent as a messenger to Paul; Phi 4:18. (3) he was not an apostle in the proper sense of the term - the apostles having been chosen to be witnesses of the life, the teachings, the death, and the resurrection of the Saviour; see Act 1:22; compare the notes, Co1 9:1. (4) if he had been an apostle, it is altogether improbable that he would have seen sent on an errand comparatively so humble as that of carrying supplies to Paul. Was there no one else who could do this without sending their bishop? Would a diocese be likely to employ a "bishop" for such a purpose now? And he that ministered to my wants - Phi 4:18.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Epaphroditus Mentioned only in this epistle. See on Epaphras, Plm 1:23. The name is derived from Aphrodite (Venus), and means charming. Messenger (ἀπόστολον) The same word as apostle, one sent with a commission. He that ministered (λειτουργὸν) Kindred with λειτουργία service, in Phi 2:17. Rev., minister.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
To send Epaphroditus - Back immediately. Your messenger - The Philippians had sent him to St. Paul with their liberal contribution.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Epaphroditus, my brother, etc - Here is a very high character of this minister of Christ; he was, 1. A brother - one of the Christian family; a thorough convert to God, without which he could not have been a preacher of the Gospel. 2. He was a companion in labor; he labored, and labored in union with the apostle in this great work. 3. He was a fellow soldier; the work was a work of difficulty and danger, they were obliged to maintain a continual warfare, fighting against the world, the devil, and the flesh. 4. He was their apostle - a man whom God had honored with apostolical gifts, apostolical graces, and apostolical fruits; and, 5. He was an affectionate friend to the apostle; knew his soul in adversity, acknowledged him in prison, and contributed to his comfort and support.

Top

²³ Whether [1535] any do enquire of [5228] Titus [5103], he is my [1699] partner [2844] and [2532] fellowhelper [4904] concerning [1519] you [5209]: or [1535] our [2257] brethren [80] be enquired of, they are the messengers [652] of the churches [1577], and the glory [1391] of Christ [5547].

⁷ Salute [782] Andronicus [408] and [2532] Junia [2458], my [3450] kinsmen [4773], and [2532] my [3450] fellowprisoners [4869], who [3748] are [1526] of note [1978] among [1722] the apostles [652], who [3739] also [2532] were [1096] in [1722] Christ [5547] before [4253] me [1700].

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:

³ Thou [4771] therefore [3767] endure hardness [2553], as [5613] a good [2570] soldier [4757] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

³⁰ Having [2192] the same [846] conflict [73] which [3634] ye saw [1492] [1492] in [1722] me [1698], and [2532] now [3568] hear [191] to be in [1722] me [1698].

²⁷ Only [3440] let your conversation be [4176] as it becometh [516] the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547]: that [2443] whether [1535] I come [2064] and [2532] see [1492] you [5209], or [1535] else be absent [548], I may hear [191] of your [5216] affairs [4012], that [3754] ye stand fast [4739] in [1722] one [1520] spirit [4151], with one [3391] mind [5590] striving together [4866] for the faith [4102] of the gospel [2098];

³⁰ Because [3754] for [1223] the work [2041] of Christ [5547] he was nigh [1448] unto [3360] death [2288], not regarding [3851] his life [5590], to [2443] supply [378] your [5216] lack [5303] of service [3009] toward [4314] me [3165].

¹⁸ But [1161] I have [568] all [3956], and [2532] abound [4052]: I am full [4137], having received [1209] of [3844] Epaphroditus [1891] the things which were sent from [3844] you [5216], an odour [3744] of a sweet smell [2175], a sacrifice [2378] acceptable [1184], wellpleasing [2101] to God [2316].

¹ Am [1510] I not [3756] an apostle [652]? am [1510] I not [3756] free [1658]? have I not [3780] seen [3708] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] our [2257] Lord [2962]? are [2075] not [3756] ye [5210] my [3450] work [2041] in [1722] the Lord [2962]?

²² Beginning [756] from [575] the baptism [908] of John [2491], unto [2193] that same day [2250] that [3739] he was taken up [353] from [575] us [2257], must [1163] one [1520] be ordained [1096] to be a witness [3144] with [4862] us [2254] of his [846] resurrection [386].

¹ Paul [3972] and [2532] Timotheus [5095], the servants [1401] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], to all [3956] the saints [40] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] which are [5607] at [1722] Philippi [5375], with [4862] the bishops [1985] and [2532] deacons [1249]:

³ Thou [4771] therefore [3767] endure hardness [2553], as [5613] a good [2570] soldier [4757] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
⁴ No man [3762] that warreth [4754] entangleth himself [1707] with the affairs [4230] of this life [979]; that [2443] he may please [700] him who hath chosen him to be a soldier [4758].

² And [2532] to our beloved [27] Apphia [682], and [2532] Archippus [751] our [2257] fellowsoldier [4961], and [2532] to the church [1577] in [2596] thy [4675] house [3624]:

¹⁷ Yea [235], and if [1499] I be offered [4689] upon [1909] the sacrifice [2378] and [2532] service [3009] of your [5216] faith [4102], I joy [5463], and [2532] rejoice with [4796] you [5213] all [3956].

²³ There salute [782] thee [4571] Epaphras [1889], my [3450] fellowprisoner [4869] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424];