What Kind of Person Should be Honoured?

The Bible contains sixty-six books in total. Each one, inspired by God's Spirit, is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So when the author of thirteen of these books writes "honour such men" in one of his letters, I want to discover who he is talking about and why such honour is deserved.

One such man put forward for honour is Epaphroditus. He is mentioned by name only twice in Scripture, yet the scarcity of references should not be mistaken for insignificance. Clearly his life and character made such an impact that Paul the Apostle felt compelled to write:

"So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honour such men..." (Philippians 2:29).

Several important questions arise from this verse. What exactly did Epaphroditus do or say to earn such affection and admiration from Christianity’s most prominent missionary? What kind of person was he? And if we discover the answers, are they even relevant for today?

To begin, let’s look at the context. The phrase "honour such men" appears in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Written from a prison cell around AD 60, the letter is addressed to a young church made up largely of new converts from pagan, Roman, or Greek backgrounds. In the second chapter, the wider passage reads:

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honour such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (Philippians 2:25-30, ESV)

Paul also writes later:

I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18, ESV)

In the first reference, Paul lists five relational titles for Epaphroditus: brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister. It is quite an impressive list. These titles not only speak to Epaphroditus’s character but also reveal the depth of their shared relationship. Paul could easily have mentioned only the name and still made his point. Instead, he deliberately adds these roles to paint a picture of what a true servant of Christ looks like. He is building a case for why Epaphroditus is worthy of honour.

In the second reference, Paul acknowledges the gifts delivered by Epaphroditus. This highlights his role as a reliable and faithful courier. If the gift was financial, it may help explain the risk involved — he would have carried it on the long and dangerous journey from Philippi to Rome.

Drawing directly from Scripture, we see two further reasons why Epaphroditus deserves honour. Philippians 2:30 tells us he "nearly died for the work of Christ" and that he "risked his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me." The two phrases are similar but carry important nuances.

First, he nearly died doing the work of Christ. This tells us the focus of his life. His eyes were fixed on Jesus, and he made doing the Master’s work his central purpose. He was not the victim of foolish misadventure or careless risk-taking. His near-death experience flowed directly from faithful service in the dangerous days of the early church’s expansion in a hostile culture. We are not told the exact details of his illness, but the text gives us enough to see the cost of his devotion.

Secondly, the fact that he risked everything to complete the task speaks of him as a finisher. It reveals his priorities and what he was willing to lose in order to see the mission through. In a world where starting something is relatively easy but finishing is far harder, this quality stands out.

Today, people are most commonly honoured through awards, titles, prizes, and public recognition — think of the Nobel Prize, the Oscars, the Victoria Cross, or titles like Sir or Dame. We give standing ovations, Hall of Fame inductions, statues, and grand celebrations to mark significant achievements. Yet there is often sharp disagreement about who or what truly deserves honour. The gap between differing views seems to have widened. While some honours still celebrate genuine sacrifice and service, others can feel misplaced or even absurd.

So, to answer the question: what kind of person should be honoured? In conclusion, Epaphroditus gives us a powerful example of the kind of person truly worthy of honour. In a world that often throws recognition around cheaply, the faithful service and proven character of this relatively unknown man can help us recognise similar people in our own churches and communities today — and raise the bar for the kind of life we ourselves aspire to. May our churches be filled with more Epaphroditus-like believers.