Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus who wrote many epistles which formed part of the New Testament. He had received awesome revelations about the mystical Body of Christ. When we study about the life and ministry of this great apostle, we tend to forget his co-workers. We look into his epistles for apostolic doctrines but do not look at the last paragraphs of his epistles where he has mentioned about his co-workers. The epistles of Paul were incomplete and would lose their meaning if we ignore his co-workers. Paul's apostolic ministry was not an independent and individual one. It was a body ministry or a team work. Paul regarded every one in his team as his brother/sister and loved them from the depth of his heart. Many of these co-workers were not known by their offices. Their offices or ministries were neither defined nor revealed in the Pauline epistles. For Paul, his co-workers were more than the officially designated ministers of God like apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc.
Paul remembered the name of every co-worker and trusted him or her fully. However, he was deserted by some of them like Alexander, the coppersmith who did him much evil (2 Tim.4:14).
About a couple namely "Priscilla and Aquilla", Paul introduced them "my helpers in Christ Jesus" "who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles" (Rom.16:4). About one Perris, he wrote "Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord" (Rom.16:12).
About Epaphroditus, Paul described in Phil.3:25-30 "my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier". "He was sick nigh unto death". Paul exhorted Philippians to receive him in the Lord with all gladness "because for the work of Christ he was high unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me".
About Epaphroditus, Paul further wrote in Col.4:12, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ…always laboring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God…
For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you……"
How much did Paul trust his fellow workers? He trusted them fully. These days, many ministers of God have great establishments all over their nations or all over the world. Do they treat their co-workers as their brethren/sisters in the Lord and companions in labor or merely their subordinate staff/employees?
Epaphoditus was a prayer warrior and loved the Lord to such an extent that he was nigh unto death. He did not write any epistle. He was not known by any ministerial designation but was known by his work which resulted in his nearing the jaws of death.
There are thousands of people of God like Epaphoditus, Priscilla and Aquilla, whom we do not know in the Christian world.
Many aspire to be Paul or Peter but do not aspire to be Epaphroditus. The Church needs more Epaphoditus, Priscilla and Aquilla than Paul.
-Job Anbalagan