COLOSSIANS – Part Fourteen

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

www.godsbreathpublications.com

 

Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome. Epaphras, the pastor of the church in Colossae, came to Paul to share how well the Christians were growing in faith, but also to ask for help to address the issue of false teaching that was threatening the church. Paul responded by writing this letter of encouragement that is packed full of basic doctrine concerning Christ and the Gospel. In the first several chapters of this book Paul covered basic doctrine as well as the blessings and privileges that Christians have in knowing Christ as Savior. In the last chapters Paul shared how to live the Christian life based on the doctrines and beliefs he had previously covered. Here in this passage Paul shares the names of personal friends and acquaintances who have meant a lot to him in the ministry.

 

Colossians 4:7-18

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

 

In this passage Paul introduces us to many of the fellow Christians who serve in the ministry and minister to him. He mentions the men who very likely will carry this letter to the followers of Christ at Colossae, Tychicus and Onesimus. He mentions Christians who are Jewish, Aristarchus, Mark and Justus. He identifies those who are Gentile believers, Epaphras, Luke and Demas. Paul probably mentions these men for several reasons. First it is a way of greeting the Christians at Colossae with the names of men they know, because Paul had never been to Colossae. Secondly it is a way to praise those who have served and ministered with him and so is a form of recognition and thanks for their service.

 

Paul also in this passage greets the followers of Christ at Laodicea, praises Nympha for opening that home to believers to fellowship and worship. He also encourages these believers to read this letter to the Colossians. Paul ends this letter with a benediction.

 

It would be helpful at this point to share some personal information about each of these men that Paul mentions. It will give you some history as to the lives they lived and will add to your understanding of them being mentioned here. It will also inform you of the part they played in building the kingdom of God in the first century.

 

TYCHICUS – The Man with the Servants Heart: This name means “fortuitous” or “fortunate.” He is mentioned 5 times in the New Testament. We are told in Acts 20:4 that Tychicus was willing to travel with Paul to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey. Tychicus’ willingness to travel with Paul to Jerusalem shows his servant’s heart. Here in Colossians we see that Tychicus is still by Paul’s side, ministering to him and with him. It is possible that Paul gives the letter to the Colossians to him to deliver. Paul gives three credentials of Tychicus: 1. He was a beloved brother in the Lord, 2. Paul describes him as a faithful servant. 3. Paul calls him a fellow bondservant in the Lord.

 

ONESIMUS – The Man with a Sinful Past: Onesimus was a runaway slave. Paul wrote the book of Philemon which is a letter to the man by this name. Paul wrote this letter to Philemon to ask him to forgive Onesimus and accept him back as a brother in the Lord.

 

ARISTARCHUS – The Man with a Sympathetic Heart: Aristarchus was a Jewish believer who had a Greek name. He was a native of Thessalonica. Aristarchus was with Paul on his third missionary journey and was seized by a rioting mob because he was recognized as one of Paul’s companions. He traveled with Paul to Jerusalem as well as the journey to Rome. It is possible Aristarchus was also in prison with Paul because Paul identifies him as a fellow prisoner.

 

JOHN MARK – The Man with a Surprising Future: John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas. He accompanied Paul and Barnabus on Paul’s first missionary journey but he deserted them when the going go rough. This desertion by John Mark was a cause of a dispute between Paul and Barnabus in the future. On Paul’s second missionary journey Barnabus wanted John Mark to go as well but Paul would not allow it. This argument caused Paul and Barnabus to part ways. But this is not the end of the story. When Paul wrote Colossians, John Mark was a changed man and had been restored to usefulness in the ministry. The man that Paul had once rejected now was one of his trusted co-laborers. Paul requested John Mark to come to him because he was useful to him (2 Timothy 4:11). Paul tells the Christians at Colossae here that if Mark comes to them to obey his instructions and welcome him. You might call John Mark the man of the second chance for later he is given the privilege of writing the Gospel of Mark.

 

JESUS JUSTUS – The Man with a Strong Commitment: Little is known about Justus. It is possible he is a Roman Jew who was brought to faith by Paul. Jesus is the Greek form of the name Joshua which means “savior.” The Latin meaning of Justus is “righteous.” He is one of only three Jewish men who were fellow co-workers in the gospel, the others being John Mark and Aristarchus. They were all great encouragers to Paul in his ministry. Jesus Justus showed his strong commitment to Christ by leaving the Jews and following and serving Paul in his mission.

 

EPAPHRAS – The Man with a Single Passion: Epaphras was the founder of the church at Colossae and probably the current pastor at the time of the writing of Colossians. He is also identified as a “bond slave.” Even though the churches in the Lycus Valley were many miles away, Epaphras labored intensely for them in prayer. The meaning of the Greek words for “wrestling in prayer” means to agonize with deep emotion and dedication. It is usually a word used for athletic competitions. In John 18:36 the word is translated “fight.” So Epaphras agonizingly fights in his prayers for those he shepherds. He wanted for fellow Christians the same thing Paul wanted, that they might “stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.”

 

LUKE – The Man with a Specialized Talent: Luke was Paul’s personal physician, as well as his close friend. He was a Gentile believer who traveled frequently with Paul on his missionary journeys. Luke was educated, cultured and skilled as a medical physician. He would eventually write the book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. He was born in Syrian Antioch. Some believe him to be the brother of Titus and a freed slave from the household of Theophilus but this cannot be proved.

 

DEMAS – The Man with a Sad Future: He had made a substantial commitment to the Lord’s work and was with Paul in his imprisonments, but his future was sad. 2 Timothy 4:9-10 tells us that Demas deserts the faith and goes to Thessalonica where he becomes involved in worldly pursuits.

 

Paul mentions Nympha as well who apparently was a Christian hostess of a house church, likely in Laodicea. Because the name occurs only in the accusative case, it is not possible to determine whether it is masculine or feminine. Modern translations follow the best Greek manuscripts in reading “her house” and using the feminine name Nympha. The KJV followed other manuscripts reading “his house” and thus used the masculine form Nymphas, an abbreviation of Nymphadorus meaning “gift of nymphs.”

 

Paul also mentions Archippus. His name means “master of the horse” and he was a Christian minister at Colossae, to whom Paul sends a salutation, calling him “our fellow soldier” (Philemon 2), and whom he exhorts to increased activity (Colossians 4:17). In the epistle to Philemon he is addressed jointly with Philemon and Apphia, from which it has been inferred that he was a member of Philemon’s family. Tradition states that he was one of Jesus’ seventy disciples and suffered martyrdom at Chonae, near Laodicea. History tell us that during a pagan feast the Church had gathered in Philemon’s home for prayer. When the pagans learned of it they raided the home and took Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia to be killed. They were whipped, buried up to their waists and then stoned. Archippus survived this attack, barely, and the pagans then pulled him out and left him for the children’s amusement. They stabbed him all over with knives and he gave up his soul to God.

 

This portion of Colossians communicates to us not only the reputations of men who served God and ministered with Paul, it also demonstrates to us that our reputations and character are important to God. Here we see he instructed Paul through the influence of the Holy Spirit to record the names of these men so that we might know about how they lived. It convicts us to evaluate daily how we live for God, for He is aware of all our actions, behaviors and thoughts. He keeps account of how we obey or disobey His commands. He gives us freedom to serve Him or to walk down our own selfish path. May we see from this list of Christians, models of what to do right and what to avoid in doing wrong.

 

Hebrews 12:1-3

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”