Epaphroditus
SaintWikipedia
277
MENTIONS
92
EPISODES
75
PODCASTS
Search complete. 277 mentions across 92 episodes found for "Epaphroditus".
Sep 18, 2026
speaker_6NARRATOR
Tonight, we are going to examine one such story, a story so quiet that most people who have read the Bible dozens of times could not tell you a single detail about the man at its centre.
speaker_6NARRATOR
His name was Epaphroditus.
speaker_6NARRATOR
He was not an apostle.
speaker_6NARRATOR
He was not a prophet.
speaker_6NARRATOR
This is a story about the kind of faith that God sees even when history does not.
speaker_6NARRATOR
It is a story about sacrifice without fanfare, about service that costs everything and asks for nothing in return.
speaker_6NARRATOR
It is a story that begins not with Epaphroditus, but with a small church in a Roman colony, trying desperately to help a man they loved who was locked in chains far away.
speaker_6NARRATOR
The early church was not the institution we know today.
Rick WarrenHOST
And he says, "From the very first day, you, you welcomed us, and you helped us from the very first day." And then, as I said, several times in Paul's travels, the Philippian church was funding Paul's missionary journeys.
Rick WarrenHOST
And in this particular instance, they had sent a man named Epaphroditus all the way to Rome to bring him a financial gift, 'cause Rome, Paul was in Rome by himself, in prison.
Rick WarrenHOST
And Epaphroditus had nearly died on the way.
Rick WarrenHOST
We'll get to that later in the book.
Rick WarrenHOST
And now Paul is sending him back with this thank you note to the, to the people in Philippi.
Rick WarrenHOST
In other words, I hope I'm gonna get out of jail and come back to see you in Philippi.
Rick WarrenHOST
But he says, I think it is necessary to also send back to you Epaphroditus.
Rick WarrenHOST
That's a long Greek name for a man, but that's another guy like Timothy.
Rick WarrenHOST
Epaphroditus, my brother, my fellow worker, and my fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to me to take care of my needs.
Rick WarrenHOST
When the Philippians sent a financial gift to help Paul while he was in prison in Rome, they sent it to a guy named Epaphroditus.
Rick WarrenHOST
And he says, I'm gonna send this guy back to you.
Rick WarrenHOST
for he longs for all of you.
Rick WarrenHOST
Because the Bible says everything in the Bible is there to teach us by example.
Alistair BeggHOST
I have received full payment and more.
Alistair BeggHOST
I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice pleasing to God.
Alistair BeggHOST
Philippians chapter 4, verses 17 and 18.
Alistair BeggHOST
Paul's version of thank you for your financial support, as he writes to the Philippian church, is novel to say the least.
Roderick WebsterHOST
In my last devotion, I bring you to our sacrificial gifts of pleasing to God.
Roderick WebsterHOST
And I close with the verse, but I have all and abounded, I'm full having received of Epaphroditus, the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
Roderick WebsterHOST
And I said to you that so many times, oh, giving is well-pleasing to God because it is a sacrificial gift.
Roderick WebsterHOST
I said that these believers, they were not rich, but poor.
Brian BrodersonHOST
And he said to them, I want you to rejoice with me.
Brian BrodersonHOST
And now as we pick up in chapter three, verse one, he comes back to that same thought after having diverted a little bit to talk about two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, who exemplified this sacrificial life and this partnership with him in the gospel in real time.
Brian BrodersonHOST
Now Paul comes back to the issue of rejoicing.
Brian BrodersonHOST
So he said in verse 18 of chapter two, he said, rejoice with me.
Paul ChappellGUEST
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity, not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Paul ChappellGUEST
But I have all and abound, I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice, well-pleasing unto God.
Paul ChappellGUEST
But my God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." So as believer priests, everybody stay with me here, we can offer thanksgiving to the Lord and prayers to the Lord, and these are sacrifices as believer priests that we offer, and we can offer our offerings unto the Lord, and these are our sacrifices.
Paul ChappellGUEST
That's why some people might belittle the offering and giving, ah, all they want is money.
Roderick WebsterHOST
All my needs have been met.
Roderick WebsterHOST
I have received that which you have sent by brother Epaphroditus.
Roderick WebsterHOST
Those things that you were sent by him to me, he said, when I opened the box, the boxes, he said, when I look at the things, it was like an odor of a sweet smell.
Roderick WebsterHOST
He said, I know it was a sacrifice, but it was acceptable.
Sean ConryHOST
At the moment, I have all I need and more.
Sean ConryHOST
I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus.
Sean ConryHOST
They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
Sean ConryHOST
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
This would be anxiety-inducing.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
The Philippian church had sent one of their young men to him, a man called Epaphroditus.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
And he had come specifically to help Paul in these difficult circumstances.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Soon as he got there, Epaphroditus got sick.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
There wasn't proper medical care for him, and he almost died.
Stuart BriscoeSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
And he had to confront the reality that there was sickness and there was disease, and quite frankly, there wasn't adequate medical care to deal with it.
82 more episodes mention Epaphroditus.
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