Philippians 2:25-30 - Epaphroditus' Mission
25 Yet I deem it important to send Epaphroditus to you now--he is my brother and comrade both in labour and in arms, and is your messenger who has ministered to my needs. 26 I send him because he is longing to see you all and is distressed at your having heard of his illness. 27 For it is true that he has been ill, and was apparently at the point of death; but God had pity on him, and not only on him, but also on me, to save me from having sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am therefore all the more eager to send him, in the hope that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have the less sorrow. 29 Receive him therefore with heartfelt Christian joy, and hold in honour men like him; 30 because it was for the sake of Christ's work that he came so near death, hazarding, as he did, his very life in endeavouring to make good any deficiency that there might be in your gifts to me.