Philippians 2:27
“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Epaphroditus nearly died, but God mercifully spared him, sparing Paul added grief.
What Does Philippians 2:27 Mean?
Paul reveals how serious the illness was. Epaphroditus was sick nearly to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and Paul adds, not on him only but on me also, sparing Paul sorrow upon sorrow.
The danger was real and the recovery a gift of God's mercy. Paul, already burdened by imprisonment, would have been crushed by the death of so dear a friend, and he counts Epaphroditus' healing as mercy shown to himself as well. There is honest emotion here; Paul does not pretend that loss would not have grieved him deeply. He names his potential sorrow and gives thanks that God spared him from it. The verse is a window into Paul's humanity and into the goodness of God, who in this case granted recovery and lifted a heavy weight from the heart of his servant.