God’S Gambler
GOD’S GAMBLER
PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30
Paul writes about Epaphroditus as a further example of humble loving service.
The Christians at Philippi prepared generous gifts for the apostle Paul and commissioned one member of the congregation, Epaphroditus, to deliver them to Rome. The description of him as “your messenger and minister to my need” (2:25) suggests that the church expected their delegate to remain in Rome, caring for the apostle’s personal needs. Now that he was returning to Philippi, Paul is careful to commend him highly for his labor, and to rule out any suspicion that he had failed to fulfill the expectations of the church.
Paul had learned from Epaphroditus about the anxious concern of the Philippians for his welfare, and of the state of affairs within the congregation. He readily acknowledges Epaphroditus’ faithfulness in delivering the gifts (4:18), and in maintaining through his presence the partnership which the Philippians shared with the apostle (1:5,7; 2:25,30).
Paul assumes personal responsibility for sending the messenger to Philippi. The church is solemnly instructed to receive him with all joy and honor. He returns to the congregation not as a shirker from duty but as a wounded soldier who has been honorably discharged after commendable service (2:29-30).
Paul makes a delicate play on the name “Epaphroditus” in 2:30. The name suggests that pagan parents had devoted their son to the service of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. But she was also the patroness of gamblers. Appian and Plutarch inform us that Roman soldiers and the Greeks generally called the highest cast of the dice “Epaphroditus.” The term spoke of one blessed with gambler’s luck in the throw of the dice because the divine hand was behind it. Alert to this background, Paul says Epaphroditus gambled with his life, but won because God was with him and merciful to him.
The term “risking” in 2:30 is rare, but occurs in an inscription from the Black Sea: “to the ends of the earth witness was borne to him that in the interest of friendship he exposed himself to dangers by his aid in (legal) strife, (taking his client’s cases) even up to the emperors.” The inscription reminds us of this little-known servant of God who assisted Paul and gambled his life to complete what was lacking in the service of the Philippians to the apostle.