Philippians 2:25

2:25 But for now ¹  I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, ²  coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger ³  and minister ⁴  to me in my need. ⁵ 

Philippians 2:27

2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. ⁶  But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief.

Philippians 4:3

4:3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion, ⁷  help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry ⁸  along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 4:15

4:15 And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone.

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¹ tn Grk “But.” The temporal notion (“for now”) is implied in the epistolary aorist (“I have considered”), for Epaphroditus was dispatched with this letter to the Philippians.

² tn Grk “my brother” instead of “For he is my brother.” Verse 25 constitutes one sentence in Greek, with “my brother…” functioning appositionally to “Epaphroditus.”

sn The reason why Paul refers to Epaphroditus as his brother, coworker, fellow soldier, etc., is because he wants to build up Epaphroditus in the eyes of the Philippians, since Paul is sending him back instead of Timothy. This accent on Epaphroditus’ character and service is implied in the translation “For he is…”

³ tn Grk “apostle.”

⁴ tn The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgo").

⁵ tn Grk “servant of my need.”

⁶ tn Grk “For he became ill to the point of death.”

⁷ tn Or “faithful fellow worker.” This is more likely a descriptive noun, although some scholars interpret the word σύζυγος (suzugos) here as a proper name (“Syzygos”), L&N 42.45.

⁸ tn Grk “in the gospel,” a metonymy in which the gospel itself is substituted for the ministry of making the gospel known.