SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:25
Mas tuve por cosa necesaria enviaros a Epafrodito, hermano, y compaero y consiervo mío, y vuestro mensajero, y ministrador de mis necesidades;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Philippians 2:25
Verse 25. Epaphroditus, my brother, &c.] 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 labour; he laboured, and laboured 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 honoured 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus , etc.] In the mean while, before either he or Timothy could come to them. This man was sent by the Philippians to the apostle with a present, and had been detained at Rome for some time, partly through business, and partly through sickness; but now the apostle thought it proper, he being recovered, to send him to them, who was one of their ministers. One of this name lived at Rome about this time, and was one of Nero's freemen , but not the same person here intended. This person has a very high character. The apostle calls him, my brother ; not in a natural relation, or as being his countryman, and so according to a way of speaking with the Jews, and himself, his brother and kinsman according to the flesh; for by his name and country he seems to be a Greek; but in a spiritual relation, being born again of the same Father, belonging to the same household and family, and also a brother in the ministry, as it follows: and companion in labour ; in the laborious work of preaching the Gospel.
The ministry of the word is a work; it is called the work of the ministry; and it is a laborious one when diligently and faithfully performed: the apostle was a workman that needed not to be ashamed, a labourer in Christ's vineyard, and one that laboured more abundantly than others; and he was not alone, he had companions in his work, and this good man was one of them: he adds, and fellow soldier ; the life of every believer is a warfare; he is always engaged in a war with sin, and Satan, and the world; and is often called to fight the fight of faith, to contend earnestly against false teachers for the faith once delivered to the saints, to stand up for it, and fast in it; and is provided for with the whole armour of God, with weapons of warfare, which are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty, being enlisted as a volunteer under the great Captain of his salvation, Jesus Christ, under whose banner he fights, and is more than a conqueror through him: but though this is the common case and character of all the saints, it more especially belongs to ministers of the Gospel; who are set for the defence of it, and at the front of the battle, and are called to meet the enemy at the gate, and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and such an one was the apostle; and he had other fellow soldiers, and this person among the rest, who were engaged in the same common cause with the same enemies, under the same Captain, and would enjoy the same crown: but your messenger ; or apostle; meaning either that he was the pastor of them, a preacher to them, a minister among them; for ordinary ministers of the word were sometimes called apostles, as well as extraordinary ones, (see Romans 16:7); or rather, that he was their messenger to him, to relieve, comfort, and assist him in his bonds; and such persons were called the messengers of the churches, ( 2 Corinthians 8:23), which sense is strengthened by what follows: and he that ministered to my wants : to his personal wants in prison, and to the wants of the poor saints, which the apostle reckoned as his own, and which he used to supply; but now not able; and to his ministerial wants, filling up his place in preaching the Gospel to the saints at Rome.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-30 - It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart an upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desire liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had sorrowed for him when he was sick. I seems, his illness was caused by the work of God. The apostle urge them to love him the more on that account. It is doubly pleasant to have our mercies restored by God, after great danger of their removal and this should make them more valued. What is given in answer to prayer, should be received with great thankfulness and joy __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
αναγκαιον 316 δε 1161 ηγησαμην 2233 5662 επαφροδιτον 1891 τον 3588 αδελφον 80 και 2532 συνεργον 4904 και 2532 συστρατιωτην 4961 μου 3450 υμων 5216 δε 1161 αποστολον 652 και 2532 λειτουργον 3011 της 3588 χρειας 5532 μου 3450 πεμψαι 3992 5658 προς 4314 υμας 5209
Vincent's NT Word Studies
25. Epaphroditus. Mentioned only in this epistle. See on Epaphras, Philemon 23. The name is derived from Aphrodite (Venus), and means charming.
Messenger (apostolon). The same word as apostle, one sent with a commission.
He that ministered (leitourgon). Kindred with leitourgia service, in ver. 17. Rev., minister.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:25 {I counted it} (hgsamn). Epistolary aorist from the point of view of the readers. {Epaphroditus} (Epaphroditon). Common name, though only in Philippians in N.T., contracted into Epaphras, though not the same man as Epaphras in #Col 1:7. Note one article ton (the) with the three epithets given in an ascending scale (Lightfoot), brother (adelfon, common sympathy), fellow-worker (sunergon, common work), fellow-soldier (sunstrati"tn, common danger as in #Phm 1:2). Mou (my) and humwn (your) come together in sharp contrast. {Messenger} (apostolon). See #2Co 8:23 for this use of apostolos as messenger (missionary). {Minister} (leitourgon). See on Ro 13:6; 15:16 for this ritualistic term.
