Colossians 4:7-18 ~ Paul's Partnerships in Proclamation
The final greetings in Colossians list several different names of Paul's various gospel partners. Let us first understand the backgrounds of these partners...
Acts 13 and 15 help shine a light on the character or John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. He was one of the partners who followed Paul on his first missionary journey but not being able to withstand the hardship, left for his mother's house in Jerusalem. Yet in Colossians, Paul asked that Mark be welcomed, implying that Mark has proven himself a worthy partner despite his initial act of deserting Paul.
Aristarchus and Jesus called Justus, being men of the circumcision (verse 11), were Jews. Acts 19:29 tells us that during Paul's third missionary journey, Aristarchus was Paul's companion. Being a Thessalonian himself, Aristarchus must have followed Paul when he was in Macedonia, in the region of Thessalonica.
Luke, a physician, would turn out to be the author of one of the four gospels. Being a Gentile himself, his style of writing would be influenced by his non-Jewish background. This was demonstrated by the way he traced Jesus' genealogy all the way beyond Abraham to Adam himself, showing God's plans from the very beginning of mankind and not just starting from the promised Jewish kindred descending from Abraham.
The story of Demas, however, is an unpleasant tale of how he fled Paul and headed towards Thessalonica due to his love with this present world (2 Timothy 4:10). This is sad, considering how Demas was Paul's partner at the times when Colossians and Philemon were written.
Nympha hosted a church in her house while Archippus was also a partner mentioned in Philemon. As Paul never visited Colossae in person, it was Epaphras who brought the Word to the Colossians and who was a fellow prisoner in Christ with Paul (Colossians 1:7, Philemon 23).
Onesimus, on the other hand, ran away as a slave of Philemon to Paul. Paul's letter to Philemon was then to ask him to release and free Onesimus, treating him as a fellow brother-in-Christ. Onesimus would then be the one who traveled with Tychicus, carrying all three letters to the Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon.
Now that we know these ten partners of Paul a little better, how is all these knowledge relevant to us? Firstly, we may emulate Tychicus' example (verses 7-9). Although the proclamation of the gospel may be difficult and challenging, we can be encouraged by Tychicus' fervent passion for the gospel to further encourage and spur others on. We can also take note of Epaphras' struggle and prayers in verse 12. Prayer acknowledges the sovereignty of God and helps us to be united in this gospel partnership. To stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God (verse 12) is to put on the new self (Colossians 3:12-17) in the way we live our lives, opening doors to proclaim the gospel. And just as how Archippus was reminded to fulfill the ministry that he has received in the Lord (verse 17), we need to remind each other of what we are supposed to be doing, that is, to proclaim the gospel. It is not uncommon for us to get distracted from this primary purpose every now and then but this is where such reminders will help bring us back on track.
Last but not least, how wonderful it is for us to have Paul's example to follow: the example of the proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through partnership with fellow believers!!
Ps. Blessed birthday to my dearest daddy... =)
Acts 13 and 15 help shine a light on the character or John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. He was one of the partners who followed Paul on his first missionary journey but not being able to withstand the hardship, left for his mother's house in Jerusalem. Yet in Colossians, Paul asked that Mark be welcomed, implying that Mark has proven himself a worthy partner despite his initial act of deserting Paul.
Aristarchus and Jesus called Justus, being men of the circumcision (verse 11), were Jews. Acts 19:29 tells us that during Paul's third missionary journey, Aristarchus was Paul's companion. Being a Thessalonian himself, Aristarchus must have followed Paul when he was in Macedonia, in the region of Thessalonica.
Luke, a physician, would turn out to be the author of one of the four gospels. Being a Gentile himself, his style of writing would be influenced by his non-Jewish background. This was demonstrated by the way he traced Jesus' genealogy all the way beyond Abraham to Adam himself, showing God's plans from the very beginning of mankind and not just starting from the promised Jewish kindred descending from Abraham.
The story of Demas, however, is an unpleasant tale of how he fled Paul and headed towards Thessalonica due to his love with this present world (2 Timothy 4:10). This is sad, considering how Demas was Paul's partner at the times when Colossians and Philemon were written.
Nympha hosted a church in her house while Archippus was also a partner mentioned in Philemon. As Paul never visited Colossae in person, it was Epaphras who brought the Word to the Colossians and who was a fellow prisoner in Christ with Paul (Colossians 1:7, Philemon 23).
Onesimus, on the other hand, ran away as a slave of Philemon to Paul. Paul's letter to Philemon was then to ask him to release and free Onesimus, treating him as a fellow brother-in-Christ. Onesimus would then be the one who traveled with Tychicus, carrying all three letters to the Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon.
Now that we know these ten partners of Paul a little better, how is all these knowledge relevant to us? Firstly, we may emulate Tychicus' example (verses 7-9). Although the proclamation of the gospel may be difficult and challenging, we can be encouraged by Tychicus' fervent passion for the gospel to further encourage and spur others on. We can also take note of Epaphras' struggle and prayers in verse 12. Prayer acknowledges the sovereignty of God and helps us to be united in this gospel partnership. To stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God (verse 12) is to put on the new self (Colossians 3:12-17) in the way we live our lives, opening doors to proclaim the gospel. And just as how Archippus was reminded to fulfill the ministry that he has received in the Lord (verse 17), we need to remind each other of what we are supposed to be doing, that is, to proclaim the gospel. It is not uncommon for us to get distracted from this primary purpose every now and then but this is where such reminders will help bring us back on track.
Last but not least, how wonderful it is for us to have Paul's example to follow: the example of the proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through partnership with fellow believers!!
Ps. Blessed birthday to my dearest daddy... =)
Labels: Australia, Christianity, Colossians
posted by Shih Ying GUN (Jane) @ 5:15 AM
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