Philippians 2:25 “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.”
“Epaphroditus” was a committed and hardworking Servant of God; Paul referred to him as “my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants” (Philippians 2:25). He was his “brother” because of the close brotherly love that they enjoyed; they enjoyed their fellowship, they could confide in each other, and they shared together both their blessings and tribulations. They were companions “in labour”; that is, they cheerfully worked together, assisting one another; when one was overburdened, the other would rush to his aid and help him carry the load. He was a “fellowsoldier”; for, they both served under the same “Commander” (Isaiah 55:4), their mission objective was the same, their tactics were the same, their weapons were the same, and their motivation to serve was the same; furthermore, they protected each other when the spiritual battles were raging. He was a “messenger” to the Philippian Church; that is, as the Holy Spirit inspired him with a Gospel message, he faithfully preached it to the Church at Philippi. Furthermore, because Paul was a prisoner in Rome, “Epaphroditus” even worked to help supply his needs (Philippians 2:30) as he continued his Apostolic duties under austere conditions. “Epaphroditus” “was nigh unto death, not regarding his life”; that is, he valued his service to the Lord, even over his own wellbeing and health. Let us pray to “the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth” such faithful “labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2)!