Philippians 2:27
in Philippians 2He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
KJV
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
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This verse in Philippians 2
Commentary
16 notes on this verseHere he also presents something else. He justifies himself before them for sending him to them late, saying approximately this: this happened not through my negligence, but I am keeping Timothy with me, as one who is of one mind with me. Epaphroditus, however, fell …
This site's exposition
Epaphroditus, my brother
on Philippians 2:25-27
Five titles honor the returning courier, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my needs. The last two translate apostolos and leitourgos, the church's envoy performing a priestly service with their gift. He was sick indeed, and God had mercy on him.
This site's exposition
God had mercy on him
The illness was real and grave. Gill stresses that it brought him near to death. Matthew Henry reads the recovery as a mercy to Paul as well, since even that church could ill spare a good minister.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Is it possible that the apostle prayed for him and the prayer was not answered by his immediate recovery? Remember that signs are for unbelievers. This man's illness was designed not for his hurt but for his growth. Many indeed are the trials of the …
The words "God had mercy on him" also reveal Epaphroditus's zeal for the contest. He did not wish to be rid of his wretched life, even knowing the gain that was to spring from it. "And God also pitied me," says Paul, "by not depriving …
Note what benefits we experience from the Lord even in this life. Hence we ought not hurry to death. For even if this world is a hotbed of sin and therefore to be shunned, yet the desire to live in the world comes from your …
Many are preserved and pitied by God because something is done through them which belongs to the ministry of salvation. At the same time we also should pray for those who are ill, lest we be saddened by the loss of those whose help we …
"Since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow." Here he aims at a farther point, making it manifest, that Epaphroditus too was well aware, how he was beloved of them. And this is no light thing toward loving. You know how he was sick, he says; and he grieved that on his recovery he did not see you, and free you from the grief ye had by reason of his sickness. Here too he gives another reason for sending so late to them, not from any remissness, but he kept Timothy because he had no one else, (for, as he had written, he had "no one likeminded,") and Epaphroditus because of his sickness. He then shows that this was a long sickness, and had consumed much time, by adding, "for he was sick nigh unto death." You see how anxious Paul is to cut off from his disciples all occasion of slighting or contempt, and every suspicion that his not coming was because he despised them. For nothing will have such power to draw a disciple toward one, as the persuasion that his superior cares for him, and that he is full of heaviness on his account, for this is the part of exceeding love. Because "ye have heard," he says, "that he was sick; for he was sick nigh unto death." And that I am not making an excuse, hear what follows. "But God had mercy on him." What sayest thou, O heretic? Here it is written, that God's mercy retained and brought back again him who was on the point of departure. And yet if the world is evil, it is no mercy to leave a man in the evil. Our answer to the heretic is easy, but what shall we say to the Christian? for he perchance will question, and say, "if to depart and to be with Christ is far better," how saith he that he hath obtained mercy? […]
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
He explains the reason, saying: Indeed he was ill, near to death, i.e., in the opinion of the physicians, though not according to God's providence, but for the glory of God; "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God" (Jn. …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death,.... It was not a mere rumour, or a false alarm, but was real matter of fact; and it was not a light disorder, a slight indisposition, but a very dangerous illness; though the sickness was not unto death, yet near it.
The apostle owns it is a great mercy to himself, as well as to Epaphroditus and others. Though the church was blessed at that time with extraordinary gifts, they could even then ill spare a good minister.
Sickness is a calamity common to men, to good men and ministers. But why did not the apostle heal him, who was endued with a power of curing diseases, as well as raising the dead? Probably because that was intended as a sign to others, and to confirm the truth of the gospel, and therefore needed not be exercised one towards another.
He presses them largely to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the great pattern of humility and love. The great gospel precept passed upon us; that is, to love one another. This is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit. lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow--namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment.
Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow - The sorrows of his death, added to the sorrow he endured on account of his sickness; or he may refer to his own state of affliction, being imprisoned and maltreated.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. Paul. on Phil no. ii.) that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every reason to suppose that Paul would at once have restored him to health.
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γὰρ | gar | indeed | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἠσθένησεν | esthenesen | he was sick | G770 → | |
| παραπλήσιον | paraplesion | nearly | G3897 → | |
| θανάτῳ· | thanato | unto death; | G2288 → | 120 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἠλέησεν | eleesen | had mercy on | G1653 → | |
| αὐτόν, | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | on him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μόνον | monon | alone | G3441 → | 110 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐμέ, | eme | on me myself, | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| λύπην | lupen | sorrow | G3077 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| λύπην | lupen | sorrow | G3077 → | |
| σχῶ. | scho | I may have. | G2192 → | 707 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γὰρindeed
garG1063 →1039 times
ἠσθένησενhe was sick
esthenesenG770 →
παραπλήσιονnearly
paraplesionG3897 →
θανάτῳ·unto death;
thanatoG2288 →120 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἠλέησενhad mercy on
eleesenG1653 →
αὐτόν,him
autonG846 →5565 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
αὐτὸνon him
autonG846 →5565 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
μόνονalone
mononG3441 →110 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐμέ,on me myself,
emeG1473 →839 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
λύπηνsorrow
lupenG3077 →
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
λύπηνsorrow
lupenG3077 →
σχῶ.I may have.
schoG2192 →707 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 34:19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.
- 1 Peter 4:12–13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Psalms 34:6
This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Psalms 34:17
Through
2 Corinthians 2:7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Galatians 6:1–2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Ephesians 4:32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
About Philippians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.27.2-3; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.27; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 2.26-7; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.