Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

assumed. Paul's "need" was men, not money. "Your (emphatic) commissioner (representative) for
my need" means: for my need of a brother, fellow worker, and a fellow soldier. The Philippians had
sent Epaphroditus as their gift to Paul ... where is a man bringing a gift called a λειτoυργoς? (R.C.H.
Lenski) It is better translated as a hendiadys: "your messenger sent to minister to my need". (P.T.
O'Brien) “Hegeomai” denotes a belief resting not on one’s inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due
consideration of external grounds, the weighing and comparing of facts, deliberate and careful
judgment. (R. Earle)
There are some of God’s children who are privileged by God to stand in places of prominence in the
Christian world. But many serve in unseen places and out-of-the-way positions, in duties and
responsibilities under God that are often veiled from the other members of the body of believers and
that go unrecognized in the church. So the apostle introduces us to the man Epaphroditus, a man
who would have been entirely unknown and unrecognized in the annals of the Christian church were
it not for this one brief reference to him. (J. Pentecost) Epaphroditus was a member of the Philippian
Church who brought the contribution from that Church to Paul at Rome. While in the imperial city,
he threw himself so zealously into the work of the apostle as to bring on an illness and seriously
endanger his life. (W. Adeney)
Philp. 2:25 But now (adversative, temporal) I consider (h`ge,omai,
AMI1S, Epistolary, Deponent) it necessary (Pred. Acc.; a pressing
need after weighing the facts) to send (pe,mpw, AAInf., Constative,
Purpose) Epaphroditus (Acc. Dir. Obj.; Epaphras) face-to-face to
you (Acc. Advantage), my (Gen. Rel.) brother (fellow believer, the
beginning of several Complementary Accusatives in a string) and
(connective) co-worker (communicator of doctrine) and (connective)
comrade-in-arms (fellow soldier or pastor-teacher in the angelic
conflict), your (Gen. Rel.) highest ranking one (ambassador,
envoy, messenger), even (ascensive) a minister (supergrace
service) with reference to my (Gen. Poss.) needs (Adv. Gen. Ref.;
companionship for Paul while he was in prison, category 3 soul
rapport, encouragement to Paul while he crossed no-man's land),
WHO Philippians 2:25 VAnagkai/on de. h`ghsa,mhn VEpafro,diton to.n avdelfo.n kai. sunergo.n kai.
sustratiw,thn mou u`mw/n de. avpo,stolon kai. leitourgo.n th/j crei,aj mou pe,myai pro.j u`ma/j
VUL Philippians 2:25 necessarium autem existimavi Epafroditum fratrem et cooperatorem et
commilitonem meum vestrum autem apostolum et ministrum necessitatis meae mittere ad vos
LWB Philp. 2:26 Because he was longing to be with all of you [homesick] and was concerned
[distressed] because you heard [a rumour] that he was critically ill,
KW
Philp. 2:26 For he was constantly yearning after all of you, and was in extreme anguish
because you heard that he was ill.