Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. EpaphrasEpaphras is a significant figure in the early Christian church, mentioned here as a fellow believer from Colossae. His name, of Greek origin, means "lovely" or "charming." Historically, Epaphras is believed to have been instrumental in founding the church at Colossae, as well as those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. His role as a church planter and leader highlights the importance of local leadership in the early church, emphasizing the need for dedicated individuals who are deeply rooted in their communities to spread the Gospel. who is one of you
This phrase underscores Epaphras's connection to the Colossian believers. It indicates that he is not an outsider but a member of their community, which would have strengthened his credibility and influence among them. This connection is vital in the early church context, where local leaders were essential for maintaining doctrinal purity and community cohesion. a servant of Christ Jesus
The term "servant" here is translated from the Greek word "doulos," which means bondservant or slave. This denotes a position of humility and total devotion to Christ. In the Roman world, a doulos was someone who was entirely at the disposal of their master. Epaphras's identity as a servant of Christ highlights his commitment and submission to the will of Jesus, serving as a model for all believers to prioritize their allegiance to Christ above all else. sends you greetings
This simple phrase reflects the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities. Despite geographical distances, there was a strong sense of unity and fellowship among believers. Greetings were more than mere formalities; they were expressions of love, concern, and solidarity in the faith. This practice of sending greetings is a reminder of the importance of maintaining relationships and encouraging one another in the faith. He is always wrestling in prayer for you
The word "wrestling" is translated from the Greek "agonizomai," which conveys the idea of striving or struggling earnestly. This term is often associated with athletic contests, suggesting intense effort and dedication. Epaphras's commitment to prayer is depicted as a spiritual battle, emphasizing the power and necessity of intercessory prayer. His example challenges believers to engage deeply in prayer, recognizing it as a vital means of supporting and uplifting one another. so that you may stand mature
The phrase "stand mature" indicates a goal of spiritual growth and maturity. The Greek word "teleios" is used here, meaning complete or perfect. This maturity is not about flawlessness but about reaching a level of spiritual development where one's faith is steadfast and resilient. It reflects the biblical call for believers to grow in their understanding and application of God's Word, becoming more like Christ in character and conduct. and fully assured
This phrase speaks to the confidence and certainty that comes from a deep-rooted faith. The Greek word "plerophoreo" suggests being fully convinced or persuaded. This assurance is not based on human wisdom but on the truth of God's promises and the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a reminder that believers can have confidence in their salvation and God's plan for their lives, even amidst trials and uncertainties. in the full will of God
The "full will of God" refers to the comprehensive understanding and alignment with God's purposes and desires. It encompasses knowing God's moral will as revealed in Scripture and discerning His specific guidance in one's life. This phrase encourages believers to seek God's will earnestly, striving to live in obedience and alignment with His divine plan. It is a call to pursue holiness and to trust in God's sovereign direction for our lives. Persons / Places / Events 1. EpaphrasA fellow believer from Colossae, described as a servant of Christ Jesus. He is noted for his fervent prayer life and dedication to the spiritual maturity of the Colossian church. 2. ColossaeAn ancient city in Phrygia, Asia Minor, where the recipients of the letter, the Colossians, resided. It was a significant center for early Christianity. 3. Paul's ImprisonmentWhile not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of the letter is Paul's imprisonment, during which he wrote to encourage and instruct the Colossian believers. Teaching Points The Power of Intercessory PrayerEpaphras's example teaches us the importance of praying for others, especially for their spiritual growth and maturity. Spiritual Maturity and AssuranceThe goal of Epaphras's prayers is for the Colossians to stand mature and fully assured in God's will. This highlights the importance of seeking spiritual growth and understanding God's purpose for our lives. Being a Servant of ChristEpaphras is described as a servant of Christ, reminding us of our calling to serve Jesus and His church with dedication and humility. Community and BelongingEpaphras is "one of you," emphasizing the importance of community and belonging within the body of Christ. We are called to support and uplift one another in faith. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Epaphras's example of prayer challenge your current prayer life, especially in terms of interceding for others? 2. In what ways can you actively seek to "stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God" in your daily life? 3. How does understanding the role of a "servant of Christ" influence your approach to serving in your local church or community? 4. Reflect on a time when someone else's prayers impacted your spiritual journey. How can you be that person for someone else? 5. How can the concept of being "one of you" in a community of believers encourage you to foster deeper relationships within your church or small group? Connections to Other Scriptures Philippians 1:3-5Paul speaks of his prayers for the Philippians, showing a similar dedication to prayer as Epaphras has for the Colossians. James 5:16This verse highlights the power of fervent prayer, which aligns with Epaphras's commitment to "wrestling in prayer." Ephesians 6:18Paul encourages believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, which reflects the prayerful attitude of Epaphras. People Archippus, Aristarchus, Barnabas, Christians, Colossians, Demas, Epaphras, Justus, Luke, Marcus, Mark, Onesimus, Paul, TychicusPlaces Colossae, Hierapolis, LaodiceaTopics Always, Assured, Behalf, Bondman, Bondservant, Bondslave, Character, Christ, Christians, Clear, Combating, Complete, Conviction, Earnestly, Epaphras, Ep'aphras, Fervently, Firm, Full, Fully, God's, Greetings, Greets, Laboring, Labouring, Love, Mature, Perfect, Prayer, Prayers, Purpose, Remembering, Ripe, Salute, Salutes, Saluteth, Sends, Servant, Stand, Striving, Taking, Wrestling, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Colossians 4:12 5184 standing
5840 eagerness
5881 immaturity
5904 maturity, spiritual
5953 stability
6671 grace, and Christian life
8107 assurance, and life of faith
8241 ethics, basis of
8253 faithfulness, examples
8443 growth
8653 importunity, to God
8672 striving with God Colossians 4:7-14 5594 tribute Colossians 4:10-18 5328 greeting Colossians 4:12-13 5914 optimism Library Without and Within
'Them that are without.'--COL. iv. 5. That is, of course, an expression for the non-Christian world; the outsiders who are beyond the pale of the Church. There was a very broad line of distinction between it and the surrounding world in the early Christian days, and the handful of Christians in a heathen country felt a great gulf between them and the society in which they lived. That distinction varies in form, and varies somewhat in apparent magnitude according as Christianity has been rooted in …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThirtieth Day for the Holy Spirit with the Word of God
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Holy Spirit with the Word of God "Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance."--1 THESS. i. 5. "Those who preached unto you the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent forth from heaven."--1 PET. i. 12. What numbers of Bibles are being circulated. What numbers of sermons on the Bible are being preached. What numbers of Bibles are being read in home and school. How little blessing when it comes "in word" only; what …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession Marcus, My Son
'... So doth Marcus, my son.'--1 Peter v. 13. The outlines of Mark's life, so far as recorded in Scripture, are familiar. He was the son of Mary, a woman of some wealth and position, as is implied by the fact that her house was large enough to accommodate the 'many' who were gathered together to pray for Peter's release. He was a relative, probably a cousin (Col. iv. 10, Revised Version), of Barnabas, and possibly, like him, a native of Cyprus. The designation of him by Peter as 'my son' naturally …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John The Name Above Every Name
'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.'--ACTS ii. 36. It is no part of my purpose at this time to consider the special circumstances under which these words were spoken, nor even to enter upon an exposition of their whole scope. I select them for one reason, the occurrence in them of the three names by which we designate our Saviour--Jesus, Lord, Christ. To us they are very little more than three proper …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Conflict and Comfort.
"For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ."--COL. ii. 1, 2. Although he was in prison the Apostle was constantly at work for his Master, and not least of all at the work of prayer. If ever the words …
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul Prayer and Fervency
"St. Teresa rose off her deathbed to finish her work. She inspected, with all her quickness of eye and love of order the whole of the house in which she had been carried to die. She saw everything put into its proper place, and every one answering to their proper order, after which she attended the divine offices of the day. She then went back to her bed, summoned her daughters around her . . . and, with the most penitential of David's penitential prayers upon her tongue, Teresa of Jesus went forth …
Edward M. Bounds—The Necessity of Prayer Twenty-Eighth Day that all God's People May Know the Holy Spirit
WHAT TO PRAY.--That all God's People may know the Holy Spirit "The Spirit of truth, whom the world knoweth not; but ye know Him; for He abideth with you, and shall be in you."--JOHN xiv. 17. "Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost?"--1 COR. vi. 19. The Holy Spirit is the power of God for the salvation of men. He only works as He dwells in the Church. He is given to enable believers to live wholly as God would have them live, in the full experience and witness of Him who saves …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession Author's Introduction,
In Which the Sources of This History Are Principally Treated A history of the "Origin of Christianity" ought to embrace all the obscure, and, if one might so speak, subterranean periods which extend from the first beginnings of this religion up to the moment when its existence became a public fact, notorious and evident to the eyes of all. Such a history would consist of four books. The first, which I now present to the public, treats of the particular fact which has served as the starting-point …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning From John Yeardley's Conversion to the Commencement of his Public Ministry.
1803--1815. John Yeardley was born on the 3rd of the First Month, 1786, at a small farm-house beside Orgreave Hall, in the valley of the Rother, four miles south of Rotherham. His parents, Joel and Frances Yeardley, farmed some land, chiefly pasture, and his mother is said to have been famous for her cream-cheeses, which she carried herself to Sheffield market. She was a pious and industrious woman; but, through the misconduct of her husband, was sometimes reduced to such straits as scarcely to have …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel "And Watch unto Prayer. "
1 Pet. iv. 7.--"And watch unto prayer." "Watch." A Christian should watch. A Christian is a watchman by office. This duty of watchfulness is frequently commanded and commended in scripture, Matt. xxiv. 42, Mark xiii. 33, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Eph. vi. 18, 1 Pet. v. 8, Col. iv. 2; Luke xii. 37. David did wait as they that did watch for the morning light. The ministers of the gospel are styled watchmen in scripture and every Christian should be to himself as a minister is to his flock, he should watch over …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Epistle xxxii. To Anastasius, Presbyter .
To Anastasius, Presbyter [1714] . Gregory to Anastasius, &c. That a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things (Matth. xii. 35; Luke vi. 45), this thy Charity has shewn, both in thy habitual life and lately also in thy epistle; wherein I find two persons at issue with regard to virtues; that is to say, thyself contending for charity, and another for fear and humility. And, though occupied with many things, though ignorant of the Greek language, I have nevertheless sat …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Exhortations to Christians as they are Children of God
1 There is a bill of indictment against those who declare to the world they are not the children of God: all profane persons. These have damnation written upon their forehead. Scoffers at religion. It were blasphemy to call these the children of God. Will a true child jeer at his Father's picture? Drunkards, who drown reason and stupefy conscience. These declare their sin as Sodom. They are children indeed, but cursed children' (2 Peter 2:14). 2 Exhortation, which consists of two branches. (i) Let …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Mental Prayer.
"Pray without ceasing."--1 Thess. v. 17. There are two modes of praying mentioned in Scripture; the one is prayer at set times and places, and in set forms; the other is what the text speaks of,--continual or habitual prayer. The former of these is what is commonly called prayer, whether it be public or private. The other kind of praying may also be called holding communion with God, or living in God's sight, and this may be done all through the day, wherever we are, and is commanded us as the …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety How the Gospels came to be Written
[Illustration: (drop cap B) Early Christian Lamp] But how did the story of the Saviour's life on earth come to be written? We have seen that many years passed before any one thought of writing it down at all. The men and women who had really seen Him, who had listened to His voice, looked into His face, and who knew that He had conquered death and sin for evermore, could not sit down to write, for their hearts were all on fire to speak. But as the years passed, the number of those who had seen Christ …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making Of the Words Themselves in General.
We come now to the words themselves, wherein Christ asserts that he is, 1, "the way;" 2, "the truth;" 3, "the life;" and, 4, "that no man cometh to the Father but by him." In them we learn these two things in general. First, The misery of wretched man by nature. This cannot be in a few words expressed. These words will point out those particulars thereof, which we will but mention. 1. That he is born an enemy to, and living at a distance from God, by virtue of the curse of the broken covenant of …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament "Be Ye Therefore Sober, and Watch unto Prayer. "
1 Pet. iv. 7.--"Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." We now come to consider the coherence and connexion these duties have one to another. First, Prayer is the principal part of the Christian's employment, and sobriety and watchfulness are subordinate to it. "Be sober, and watch unto prayer." (1.) Prayer is such a tender thing that there is necessity of dieting the spirit unto it. That prayer may be in good health, a man must keep a diet and be sober, sobriety conduces so much to its …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Parables Exemplified in the Early History of the Church.
"To Him shall prayer unceasing And daily vows ascend; His Kingdom still increasing, A Kingdom without end." We have seen that our Lord described in His Parables the general character and nature of "The Kingdom of Heaven." Consequently, if the Church established by the Apostles under the guidance of the Holy Ghost is "The Kingdom of Heaven," it will necessarily be found to agree with the description thus given. Let us therefore now consider how far the history of the Church, in the Acts of the Apostles …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it? Links Colossians 4:12 NIVColossians 4:12 NLTColossians 4:12 ESVColossians 4:12 NASBColossians 4:12 KJV
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