The Coworkers of the Apostle Paul

 

The Coworkers of the Apostle Paul

 

Colossians 4:10–11: "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him). Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only ones among the circumcised who are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me."

Aristarchus heard the gospel and came to believe in Jesus while Paul was preaching in Macedonia; he joined Paul immediately thereafter. Although Paul’s missionary journeys were a continuous series of arduous and intense hardships, Aristarchus remained a faithful coworker, never once leaving Paul’s side from the moment he joined him.

The "circumcised" refers to those of the circumcision party—legalists. Among these legalists, however, there were some who grasped the gospel and held fast to the faith; one such person was Jesus, who is called Justus.

Colossians 4:12–13: "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 mature and fully assured in all the will of God. I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis."

Paul mentions that Epaphras joins him in sending greetings. Epaphras was the founder of the church in Colossae and served as its pastor. The Epistle to Philemon indicates that Epaphras was imprisoned alongside Paul; having come to visit Paul, he ended up being imprisoned as well—for reasons not specified. Naturally, this caused great concern for the church in Colossae. Colossians 4:14: "Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings."

Demas is a figure who appears several times in the letters of the Apostle Paul. Paul was once under house arrest in Rome; after about two years, he regained his freedom and embarked on a fourth missionary journey. During the reign of Emperor Nero—a time when Christians faced severe persecution—Paul was arrested once again and thrown into prison. Confined in a damp, dark underground dungeon, Paul wrote the final letter of his life to his beloved Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:10–12 states: "For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus."

Demas abandoned Paul during one of his most difficult periods and left for Thessalonica—all because he loved this world. It appears that Demas had been following Paul rather than Jesus; when the situation took a turn for the worse, he simply walked away. At the time Paul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians, he could not have foreseen this apostasy. He had no doubt that Demas, like his other fellow workers, would remain faithful in following the Lord. Yet, in the end, Demas departed. Colossians 4:15–16: "Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. After this letter has been read among you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the letter from Laodicea."

Greetings are extended not only to the believers in the Colossian church but also to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, as well as to Nympha and the church that meets in her home. This suggests that the church in Laodicea maintained close, ongoing fellowship with the church in Colossae, likely due to their geographical proximity. While the specific identity of Nympha remains unknown, it is clear that she provided her home as a place for worship.

It is possible that the church meeting in Nympha’s house and the "brothers and sisters in Laodicea" refer to distinct groups; if the latter refers to the church in Laodicea as a whole, then the church meeting in Nympha’s home might represent a smaller, local gathering in the vicinity of Laodicea.

Furthermore, as indicated in verse 16, the Apostle Paul instructs that the Epistle to the Colossians be shared not only with the believers in Colossae but also with those in nearby Laodicea. He also encourages the Colossian church to read the letter that would come from Laodicea. However, the specific content of this letter from Laodicea—and whether such a letter was ever actually written—remains unknown.

Some have speculated that the letter from Laodicea may have been the Epistle to the Ephesians. This epistle (Ephesians), along with the Epistle to the Colossians, was written during the same period and was likely delivered by Tychicus, as mentioned earlier.

Colossians 4:17–18 states: "Tell Archippus, 'See that you fulfill (*plerois*) the ministry that you have received in the Lord.' I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand—remember my chains. Grace be with you."

Based on Philemon 1:2, it is presumed that Archippus was the son of Philemon. Archippus served in the ministry at Colossae during the absence of Epaphras; the Apostle urges those reading this letter to encourage Archippus to faithfully carry out the ministry entrusted to him by God.

The term *plerois* implies more than merely performing one’s duties; it carries a strong sense of encouragement to fully complete or fulfill one’s responsibilities.

Although Paul used an amanuensis (scribe) to write this letter concerning the Gospel to the Colossians, he personally penned the final portion. In doing so, he asks them to "remember his chains"—to reflect upon for whom and for what cause he is currently imprisoned in Rome.

At that time, the church in Colossae was being troubled by various heresies, empty deceptions, philosophies, and sophisticated, false teachings. Paul calls upon them to consider the reason he is suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He wants them to remember that his imprisonment is a result of his devotion to Christ Jesus—the One he encountered by grace on the road to Damascus.

In the Stephanus edition of the Bible, additional text in bold appears in verse 18 of chapter 4. [Written to the Colossians from Rome, delivered by Tychicus and Onesimus]

I, Paul, send this greeting in my own hand—remember my chains. May grace be with you. Amen. (Written to the Colossians from Rome and sent by the hand of Tychicus and Onesimus.)