Philippians 2:25-27

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  2:26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. 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.

[2:25]  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.

[2:25]  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.”

[2:25]  ³ tn Grk “apostle.”

[2:25]  ⁴ tn The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgo").

[2:25]  ⁵ tn Grk “servant of my need.”

[2:27]  ⁶ tn Grk “For he became ill to the point of death.”