2:27a

nearly unto death: Epaphroditus had been so sick that he nearly died.

2:27b

God had mercy on him: God was sorry for Epaphroditus. So he healed him.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

God pitied him.
-or-
God was kind to him.
-or-
God had compassion on him.

It may be necessary to supply this implicit information that God made Epaphroditus well again.

2:27c

not only on him but also on me: God not only had mercy on Epaphroditus, but he also had mercy on Paul, because (2:27d) Paul would have been greatly saddened if Epaphroditus had died.

In some languages it may not be necessary to include the phrase not only on him. So the translation of 2:27b–c could just say:

God had mercy on him and also on me.

2:27d

to spare me sorrow upon sorrow: This gives the purpose for which God showed mercy to Epaphroditus and Paul. Paul was saying, “[God had mercy on him and on me] so that I would not be even more sorrowful than I am now.” Another way to say this would be: “[God had mercy on him and on me] so that I would not suffer more than I am already suffering.” Some commentators think that the first sorrow refers to Paul being sad because Epaphroditus was sick. Others think Paul was sad because he was in prison. Commentators agree that the second sorrow would have been Paul’s added sorrow if Epaphroditus had died.

sorrow: This refers to something that causes someone to be sad.

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