Philippians 2:27

25 But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

26 For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.

29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
KJV
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
WEB
For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.
ASV
for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
DARBY
for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
BLB
And indeed he was sick, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.
ÅB
For han ble virkelig syk, døden nær; men Gud miskunnet seg over ham, dog ikke bare over ham, men også over meg for at jeg ikke skulle ha sorg på sorg.
OTB
For han var virkelig syk, og nær ved å dø. Men Gud hadde barmhjertighet med ham, og ikke bare med ham, men også med meg, for å spare meg for sorg på sorg.
B1930
For han blev virkelig syk, døden nær; men Gud miskunnet sig over ham, dog ikke bare over ham, men også over mig forat jeg ikke skulde ha sorg på sorg.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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