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.
Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not the permanent gift of miracles anymore than inspiration: both were vouchsafed only for each occasion, as the Spirit thought fit.
Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow - namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, besides the sorrow of my imprisonment. Here only a sorrowful tone occurs in this letter, which generally is most joyous.