12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.” (Colossians 4:12–13 (ESV)
At the end of the Apostle Paul’s New Testament Epistles, he often included final greetings. These remarks usually mentioned fellow servants of Christ who ministered to him and alongside him. They may be identified as superstar-less servants. For the next several weeks, we’ll discover some insights from Paul about his many companions. Today, it is Epaphras.
Epaphras was a coworker with the apostle Paul. God used Epaphras, a native of Colossae, to plant a church there, as well as the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. Through him Paul learned of the church’s progress and therefore wrote his letter to the Colossians.
Paul had high regard for Epaphras. This was evidenced by the apostle’s description of his comrade as a “beloved fellow servant,” and a “faithful minister of Christ” (Col 1:7). He also called Epaphras a “servant of Christ” (4:12), a title of high praise Paul bestowed only on one other person; Timothy (Phil. 1:1).
Epaphras was in prison with Paul at this time and present when Paul wrote to Philemon (Phlm 1:23). Today’s text says Epaphras’ prayers for the Colossians focused on their biblical maturity and full assurance on the will of God.
“Epaphras, the evangelist-pastor who first brought the gospel to Colossae, is mentioned also in today’s passage as one who sent his greetings to the Colossian church when Paul wrote his epistle to the believers in that city (Col. 4:12–13; see 1:3–8). Colossians 4:13 mentions his hard work in Laodicea and Hierapolis, two cities that were located near Colossae. This tells us that Epaphras was something of a regional evangelist in that part of Asia Minor,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Even though Epaphras was not present with the church at Colossae when Paul wrote, he continued to struggle or strive on behalf of the Colossian believers in his prayers. This would have been encouraging to the Colossians, reminding them of how much they prospered on account of the prayers of other believers, especially their shepherds.”
John Calvin notes how Paul admonished “the Colossians not to look upon the prayers of their pastor as useless, but, on the contrary, to reckon that they would afford them no small assistance.”
“Today, the prayers of our pastors and elders should be among the things that we treasure the most, for their labors on their knees do more good for us than we can imagine,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 