Putting Christ First: Ministering Together: Colossians 4:7-18

Putting Christ First: Ministering Together

Colossians 4:7-18

The Couriers (v. 7-9)

• Paul ends his letter by telling the Colossians who he is entrusting this correspondence to
• Tychicus: One of Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 20:4)
  • Delivered the Letters of Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Titus
  • He is described by Paul as a beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant
• Onesimus: The servant that Paul wrote to Philemon about
  • Who met Paul in his prison, and came to Christ (v. 10)
    • Paul became deeply attached to him (v. 12, 15)
  • These men were not just passive letter-carriers
    • They were fellow ministers of the gospel who would often elaborate on the letter (see Eph. 6:21-22)

 

Ministry Partners (v. 10-15)

• Paul goes on to extend greetings from all those who are ministering with him
• 3 Jewish coworkers
  • Aristarchus: A Thessalonian who was possibly imprisoned with Paul (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:29; Rom. 16:7; Phlm 23)
  • Justus: Whose Hebrew name was Jesus*
  • Mark: Barnabus’ cousin over whom Paul and Barnabus split company (see Acts 15:37-39)
    • But, he reconciled with Paul (2 Tim. 4:11)
    • And later worked with Peter in Rome (1 Pet. 5:13)
      • Where he wrote the Gospel which bears his name
    • 3 Gentile coworkers
      • Epaphras: The local convert who brought concerns to Paul which prompted the letter
      • Luke: The doctor who wrote the book of Acts and the Gospel which bears his name
      • Demas: Who later abandons Paul (2 Tim. 4:9)
    • Those working locally
      • The church in Laodicea: Paul’s desire is to encourage fellowship between the local churches
        • Colossae and Laodicea are less than 12 miles apart
      • Nympha and the church which gathered in her home
        • Possibly a wealthy widower who opened her large home for local Christians to meet in

 

 

The Church Universal (v. 16-18)

• Again, Paul encourages the church to be working outside of just its immediate community
• He also encourages them to encourage their brother Archippus to do what God has called him to do
• He closes the letter with a greeting in his own hand
  • Since normally he used a scribe

 

 

So What?

• We are not called to live and minister alone
  • We need partners
  • Both in our congregation and in others
  • And even those with whom we have had issues in the past
• And we need to encourage each other in the ministries to which we are called