February, Dictionary of the Bible

E-pœnetus, a Christian residing at Rome when the epistle to the Romans was written, and designated “the first-fruits of Achaia,” or rather Asia (Rom. 16:55Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (Romans 16:5)); for so the best authorities have it. We may hold it for certain, therefore, that Epænetus belonged to some part of Asia Minor, the first in that part to embrace the Gospel on the testimony of Paul, but where his conversion took place is not defined.
E-paphras. ―Mentioned by the Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians, as “his dear fellow-servant, and a faithful minister of Christ;” one also that labored in prayer for them even when with the Apostle in Rome (Col. 1:7; 4:127As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; (Colossians 1:7)
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)). He is again mentioned in the epistle to Philemon, and is there characterized by the Apostle as his “fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus” (vs. 23). On what special grounds he suffered imprisonment is left altogether unnoticed; it may have been on the score of his own active exertions in behalf of the propagation of the Gospel.
E-paphroditius, one of the Church at Philippi, and the messenger whom the Church deputed to go to Rome with certain contributions to the Apostle Paul for his support during the time of his imprisonment. While fulfilling this ministry he was seized with a dangerous illness, which for a time awakened the deepest concern in the Apostle’s mind. He was restored, and bore with him, on his return to Philippi, the precious epistle which the Apostle addressed to saints there. That Epaphroditus was a person of high Christian worth, and of singular self-denial in the labors of the Gospel, is evident from the epithets Paul applies to him, and the whole tone and current of his remarks respecting him (Phil. 2:25; 4:1825Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (Philippians 2:25)
18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)).
E-noch (initiated, dedicated). ― “Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him” (Gen. 5:2626And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:26)). Nothing peculiar ushered forth that glorious hour. No big expectations or strange events gave token of its coming. It was the natural heavenly close of an undeviating heavenly journey. It was otherwise with Noah afterwards. Great preparation was made for his deliverance. Years also spent themselves―appointed years. But not so our heavenly patriarch. Noah was carried through the judgment, but Enoch before it came was borne to the place out of which it came. And if the days and years did not measure it, nor night announce it, did the world, I ask, witness it? Or was it, though so glorious and great, silent and secret? The language of the Apostle seems to give me my answer, and so does all the analogy of Scripture. “He was not found, because God had translated him.” This sounds as though man had been a stranger to that glorious hour. The world seems to have inquired and searched after him, like the sons of the prophets after Elijah, but in vain (2 Kings 2:1717And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. (2 Kings 2:17); Heb. 11:55By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)). And this tells us that the translation had been a secret to man, for they would not have searched had they seen it. All Scriptural or divine analogy answers me in like manner. Glory, in none of its forms or actions, is for the eye or ear of mere man. Horses and chariots filled the mountains, but the prophet’s servant had to get his eye opened ere he could see them. Daniel saw a glorious stranger, and heard his voice as the voice of a multitude, but the men who stood with him saw nothing, only a terror fell on them. The glory on “the holy hill” shone only in the sight of Peter, James, and John, though the brightness there at that moment (night as it was) might have lighted up all the land; for the divine face “did shine as the sun.” Many bodies of saints arose, attendants on the Lord’s rising, but it was only to some in the holy city they showed themselves. The heaven was opened over the head of the martyr of Jesus in the very midst of a multitude, but the glory was seen only by him. Paul went to Paradise and Philip to Azotus, but no eye of man tracked either the flight or the journey; and, beyond all, when Jesus rose, and that, too, from a tomb of hewn stone, and from amid a guard of wakeful soldiers, no eye or ear was in the secret. It was a lie that the keepers of the stone slept, but it was a truth that they saw no more of the resurrection than had they slept, Silence and secrecy thus mark all these glorious transactions. Visions, audiences, resurrections, flights, ascensions, the glory down here, and the heavens opened up there―all these go on, and yet mere man is a stranger to all. And the translation of Enoch takes company with all these, I assuredly judge; and so, I further judge, will another glorious hour soon come, when the voice of the archangel shall call from their graves all that “sleep in Jesus;” then the saints who are living will be changed in a moment, and all caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4). “Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord cloth come” (Matt. 24:4242Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matthew 24:42)).