In the next verse, Paul explains why he thinks the people should honor Epaphroditus —treat him as special. It was because he risked his life for the work of Christ.

His work for Christ was the cause of his sickness; he risked his life, and he almost paid for it with his life. We do not know the particulars of what happened, but the idea of risking your life has marked the followers of Christ.

The apostles' mission, after Jesus' resurrection, was risky. The people who just killed Jesus were still around, and the apostles were proclaiming his name! That was very risky.

But what options do we have? Should they love their lives more than they loved the Lord?

But they have the story of Abraham, who God asked to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac (Genesis 22), and the millions of children that came from him after that obedience.

They have the image of Jesus hanging on a tree because of His obedience to the Father and the resurrection that followed. 

These people had no choice, and the Holy Spirit drove them, filled them, and enabled them to speak about Christ.

They were sent the same way the Father sent Jesus (John 20:21), sent from the presence of God into a hostile environment to proclaim the truth.

Jesus said he does not do anything except what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19). The same with the apostles: they did what they saw Jesus doing. Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1), the apostles were led to difficult situations.

Paul knew he would face difficulty, but he still set out to go to Jerusalem, saying he was compelled by the Spirit. That means there was nothing he could do about it; his movement, his action, was determined from heaven, even though the action was going to lead him into imprisonment, and maybe eventually death.

Did you hear that? He has no choice in the matter, is what I am saying. It may not be that those believers who go to dangerous places have death wishes; it may be because they have a compelling sense that they cannot shake. They are convinced by something, someone they cannot fully explain to others.

It did not make sense for Paul, a free man with what you can call a flourishing ministry, to choose death, but his priority was not the crowd, rather to lay hold of that for which God has laid hold of him (Philippians 3:12) even if that does not line up with what humans call prestige and accolades.

He was ready to choose a route that friends and well-wishers told him not to take, because they love him and want to continue seeing him around (Acts 21:10-14). Peter also didn't want Jesus to go to the cross (Luke 9:22).

But Paul and Jesus were compelled by the Holy Spirit (See Hebrews 9:14 for the point about Jesus), and for good reason.

There was a set target Paul (see Hebrews 12:2 for the point about Jesus) had been given by heaven that was peculiar to him, and he was not looking at the news to determine what to do. He may not even know the thousands of years implication down the road. He may not be able to see far ahead to the result of his obedience.

People can mock the choice and call him stubborn, but now we know Paul's name, and all to the glory of God who enabled him to choose the divine path that does not make an immediate sense, even though it was marked with pain and death. But "he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27)."

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Paul said, in the focus verse, to honor people who have gone above and beyond for the course of Christ, who put their body on the line.

Someone told me that she was smart because she avoided persecution for her faith. That does not attract commendation from God. Not that we should court persecution, but to mock the persecuted and to in any way look down on them rather than hold them with regard is a shame. We are supposed to honor them.

Welcome him with great joy

Wow! So they are supposed to welcome Epaphroditus not just with joy, but with great joy.

Remember how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-44). That welcoming joy and the honor for people like Epaphroditus are supposed to reflect what happened with Christ.

Jesus promises people honor if they endure to the end and not deny him, if they wade through various difficulties because of his name (Revelation 2-3).    

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The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® https://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved