7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 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. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
While Paul wrote most of his letters to churches, his closing remarks show a lot of concern for people at a personal level.
Tychicus was a leader of the church and carried this letter from Paul to the Colossian church. He was a beloved brother in Christ and a faithful servant who Paul sent specifically to inform them about his situation and to encourage them. Tychicus was accompanied by Onesimus, a fellow Colossian. He was also a runaway slave who had been converted through Paul’s ministry and gone on to become a faithful and dear brother in Christ. Onesimus carried a second letter from Paul, one written to his master (Philemon). He returned to his master as a living example of Paul’s instructions to slaves (Col 3:22-25).
Paul mentions three fellow Jews (“of the circumcision”). Aristarchus was a Thessalonian who had accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey (Acts 19:29; 27:2) and now found himself in prison alongside him for preaching the gospel. Mark had accompanied (Acts 12:25) and deserted Paul (Acts 15:37-39) on his first missionary journey, was now reconciled with Paul and useful in his ministry (2 Tim 4:11). Mark wrote the second gospel giving Peter’s testimony (1 Pet 5:13). Jesus (Greek for Joshua) was a common Jewish name, he was also called Justus (righteous). These three men had been a comfort to Paul in their loyalty to him.
Epaphras was another fellow Colossian. He had brought the initial report of the Colossian church to Paul and continued to wrestle in prayer for the church. His concern, which is the theme of this letter, was that the Colossians would stand firm, mature, and fully assured in God’s will. He worked hard on behalf of the believers in the Lycus Valley (Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis).
Luke was a dear friend to Paul and attended to him during this and his future imprisonment by which time Demas (here with Paul) had forsaken him (2 Tim 4:10). Luke was the author of the third gospel.
Paul sent greetings to the church at Laodicea (a nearby church in the same region) and the church that met in Nympha’s home, a common way for the early churches to meet. Paul expected the letters he wrote to be shared among the churches. The letter he wrote to Laodicea may have been the letter to the Ephesians but it may just have been one of many letters Paul wrote that, while instructive and edifying, weren’t inspired by God to be included in the Bible as His breathed-out word (2 Tim 3:16-17). Paul included an admonishment for Archippus (Perhaps Philemon’s son, Philemon 2) who was not fulfilling the work of the ministry he had been tasked with.
Paul’s letters were often dictated to a scribe but he commonly signed the final greeting by hand. He asked that they remember his suffering for the gospel and then closed with the blessing, “grace be with you.”
How are your relationships within the church? Are you a beloved brother or sister? An encourager? A deserter? A slacker? A dear friend? A faithful servant? Are you praying and working hard for your fellow believers?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Lying to the Holy Spirit: Acts 5-6