English Standard Version
Philippians 2:25
25I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,
Philippians 2:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.
Context of Philippians 2:25
23I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:25 word by word
Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yetδέde · thenG1161
- I supposed itἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
- necessaryἀναγκαῖοςanagkaios · necessaryG316
- to sendπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- youσύsu · youG4771
- EpaphroditusἘπαφρόδιτοςEpaphroditos · EpaphroditusG1891
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- brotherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- companion in labourσυνεργόςsunergos · co-workerG4904
- fellowsoldierσυστρατιώτηςsustratiōtēs · fellow soldierG4961
- messengerἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- he that ministeredλειτουργόςleitourgos · ministerG3011
- toχρείαchreia · needG5532
Cross-references for Philippians 2:25
- Philippians 4:18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
- 2 Corinthians 2:13my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
- 2 Corinthians 8:22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
- Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
- Philippians 4:3Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
- 2 Corinthians 8:23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
- Colossians 1:7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
- Colossians 4:11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,
- 2 Timothy 2:3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Philemon 1:2and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
- Proverbs 25:13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
- John 17:18As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
- Hebrews 3:1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
- 2 Corinthians 11:7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?
Commentaries on Philippians 2:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Epaphroditus, my brother, etc - Here is a very high character of this minister of Christ; he was, A brother - one of the Christian family; a thorough convert to God, without which he could not have been a preacher of the Gospel. He was a companion in labor; he labored, and labored in union with the apostle in this great work. He was a fellow soldier; the work was a work of difficulty and danger, they were obliged to maintain a continual warfare, fighting…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus - Epaphroditus is nowhere else mentioned but in this Epistle; see Phlippians 4:18. All that is known of him, therefore, is what is mentioned here. He was from Philippi, and was a member of the church there. He had been employed by the Philippians to carry relief to Paul when he was in Rome Phlippians 4:18, and while in Rome he was taken dangerously sick. News of this had been conveyed to Philippi…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-30Verses 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 and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-30Paul praises Epaphroditus, a messenger from the church at Philippi (see also 4:18). Paul is now sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi, perhaps with this letter. Paul describes Epaphroditus as his fellow soldier. This suggests the challenges, opposition, and dangers faced in Christ's work.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. I supposed--"I thought it necessary." to send--It was properly a sending Epaphroditus back (Php 4:18). But as he had come intending to stay some time with Paul, the latter uses the word "send" (compare Php 2:30). fellow soldier--in the "good fight" of faith (Php 1:27, 30; 2Ti 2:3; 4:7). your messenger--literally, "apostle." The "apostles" or "messengers of the churches" (Ro 16:7; 2Co 8:23), were distinct from the "apostles" specially commissioned by…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries