Philippians 2:27

“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death, etc.] It was not a mere rumour, or a false alarm, but was real matter of fact; and it was not a light disorder, a slight indisposition, but a very dangerous illness; though the sickness was not unto death, yet near it. Good men, such as Christ loves, as he did Lazarus, are sometimes sick; though their spiritual diseases are healed, and their sins forgiven, so that the inhabitants of Zion have no more reason to say that they are sick, since Christ has took their infirmities, and bore their sickness, yet they are not exempt from bodily disorders; and which are sometimes such as bring them to the brink of the grave, and, as it were, to the gates of death;…”

“Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit. lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow--namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment. Here only occurs anything of a sorrowful tone in this Epistle, which generally is most joyous.”

“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. Paul. on Phil no. ii.) that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every reason to suppose that Paul would at once have restored him to health. This account, he adds, shows also that this Epistle is not the work of an impostor. Had it been, a miracle would not have been spared. Paul would not have been introduced as showing such anxiety about a friend lying at the point of…”

“God had compassion on him - Restoring him to health. Philippians 2:28”

“2:27 Epaphroditus’s recovery from a nearly fatal illness is attributed to God’s mercy, both on Epaphroditus and on Paul, who was already suffering in prison.”

“nigh: Phi 2:30; Kg2 20:1; Psa 107:18; Ecc 9:1, Ecc 9:2; Joh 11:3, Joh 11:4; Act 9:37 but God: Job 5:19; Psa 30:1-3, Psa 30:10, Psa 30:11, Psa 34:19, Psa 103:3, Psa 103:4, Psa 107:19-22; Isa 38:17; Isa 43:2; Act 9:39-41 but on: Isa 27:8; Jer 8:18, Jer 10:24, Jer 45:3; Hab 3:2; Co1 10:13; Co2 2:7 Philippians 2:28”