The Unlikely Missionary
Epaphroditus may be the most unlikely of missionaries.
You may not have heard of him, even though Paul told the church at Philippi to “hold such men in esteem” (Philippians 2:29).
At first glance, Epaphroditus’ ministry doesn’t seem like much compared to that of Paul or Barnabas or Silas — or even Mark or Philip. The church at Philippi sent Epaphroditus to deliver their offering to Paul. He became very ill while doing so, then recovered and returned home.
Not exactly an illustrious missionary journey.
So why does Paul tell us to esteem or honor people like Epaphroditus?
Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, calls Epaphroditus his “fellow worker” (2:25). That’s a term Paul reserves primarily for people such as Timothy (Romans 16:21), Titus (2 Corinthians 8:23), and Mark and Luke (Philemon 1:24).
The Bible calls these people “missionaries.” “Missionary” is derived from the Latin for “sent one,” so it is the English equivalent of the Greek word apostolos, for which most English translations use “apostle.” (See Acts 8:18 and 14:14 and Romans 11:13 for examples of places apostolos is better translated as “missionary.”)
That’s also a term Paul uses for Epaphroditus.
Paul uses this term — and “evangelist” (euangelistos), which also can mean missionary (2 Timothy 4:5) — for people who worked with him in carrying out the Great Commission by establishing churches where there were not yet believers. (See Romans 15 for Paul’s strategy.)Paul counted himself among those people, even late in his ministry when he was no longer planting churches.
Even late in his ministry when he was no longer planting churches, Paul considered himself a missionary. Like many of my co-workers in the USA, he was helping direct other missionaries. Are people who do this missionaries? Paul thought so. And since it’s in the Bible, we know God thinks so too. Administrators and leaders are part of the church planting team.
Luke is also on Paul’s list of co-workers. Luke was active in one church plant (Philippi, Acts 16 and 20), and we know of one time he practiced medicine (Acts 28). His most enduring contribution was actually writing. I work among a group of writers and editors and designers who share stories about what God is doing today. Missionaries? The Bible says so. Writers and editors and designers are part of the church planting team.
And let’s not forget Epaphroditus. He made sure the money given for Paul’s ministry reached him. That’s the role of the folks in our Finance Office. Missionaries? Yes, if we take the Bible literally. Accountants and bookkeepers are part of the church planting team.
So what does it mean to “hold such men in esteem”?
The word Paul uses in Philippians 2:29 is found only five times in the New Testament. Twice it’s translated “precious” in reference to Jesus in 1 Peter 2:4-6. It’s also the word for the place of honor at a feast in Luke 14:8.Perhaps the most telling usage of the word occurs in Luke 7:2, when Luke relates the story of the Roman centurion’s servant — actually, slave — “who was dear to him.” The word translated “dear” is the word Paul used in Philippians 2:29. When this valued slave was deathly ill, he sought out help.
In fact, the centurion — a professional officer — so valued this slave that he was willing to humble himself and go to the people he ruled over, the Jews, and ask them to appeal to Jesus for him.
Precious, honored and valuable — those words describe someone who is “esteemed.”
So what do you think the Bible means when it tells us to “hold ... in esteem” the missionaries who serve on the tribal church planting team in the USA?
What will you do to obey God’s Word and treat such people as precious, honored and valuable?