Colossians 4:7-18
Recently, I received a postcard from one of our young men that is travelling through several countries on a missions adventure. He sent it from Viet Nam where he was working at the time, but he has since moved on to Cambodia. One side of the card has a picture of an Asian motorcycle traffic jam on it and the other side is a nice handwritten note about how he is doing and his appreciation for the help we have given him. He writes, “...thank you and thank LMBC for all their prayer support. It is so encouraging and uplifting knowing that you and the church have my back. God has used this Race as so many learning blocks that I have simply been blown away…”
Of course, a postcard is a simple way to send a short vignette about people, places or thoughts that you want someone to see and/or hear while you are away. In today’s technologically advanced world there probably aren’t as many postcards mailed as in the past, but you’ve likely received or sent one at some point in your journey through this life.
It’s as a postcard that I’d like for you to think of these closing verses of the Letter to the Colossians. This section of the book is a quick vignette about some specific people that are with the Apostle Paul as he is under house arrest during his first Roman imprisonment for the Gospel’s sake.
As Paul closes this letter, having exalted the Lord Jesus Christ as the Incomparable Christ, he mentions the names of at least eight people that are with him in Rome. With some of the names he gives a brief note about them and specific tasks that are committed to them. This closing section of Colossians stands, in part, as a reminder of the importance of friends and co-laborers in the service of God.
- Tychicus: A like minded assistant
The first name he mentions is that of Tychicus (4:7-8), who was a man that was deeply trusted by the Apostle Paul. This man has been recognized by some authorities as Paul’s personal representative. He had travelled with Paul on other occasions (Acts 20:4) and he has more superlatives written about him than any of the others mentioned here.
Previously, Tychicus had assisted with delivering the relief offering to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). And, apparently he was considered as the person to relieve Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12) and Timothy in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12) when Paul needed these two men to come to him at different times. Paul here entrusts him with two letters (cf. Colossians 4:7-8 & Ephesians 6:21-22) that he is to take to their respective cities to inform and comfort the believers in those places. If Ephesians is also intended to be a circular letter (as with Colossians), then he may well have travelled to several other churches in Asia, as well.
All of these facts point to the dependability and reliability of this man and the trust that Paul had in him. On one occasion (Philippians 2:19-23) Paul even stated that it was difficult to find those that are “likeminded” with him. What we need to remember is that the greatest ability we can give to the Lord is our dependability! Faithfulness has become a missing virtue in 21st--Century church life. It must have been a challenge for some in the 1st Century, also. Remember, the Lord promised to reward the “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23), not the indifferent and undependable one.
- Onesimus: A new believer in Christ
He then introduced Onesimus who was a relatively new believer, but one that had also proven himself to be “faithful” (4:9). The story of Onesimus is an interesting one and demonstrates the providence and compassion of God. He had been a slave to a wealthy Christian in Colossae named Philemon, but had run away to Rome. No one knows the details of how he was brought into contact with the Apostle Paul. But, after meeting him, Onesimus received Christ as his own Savior. He became a trusted helper to Paul and was referred to by Paul as a “loved brother” (4:9).
Onesimus, travelling with Tychicus to Colossae, was also bearing a personal letter from Paul to his former master, Philemon. In it Paul speaks of Onesimus bearing part of his “heart” (Philemon 12-13) with him as he leaves him in Rome. In other words, Paul loved this new convert and had grown to trust him while he was with him. He goes further and tells his friend Philemon to receive Onesimus back as “...no longer a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother…” (Philemon 15-17). Paul was even willing to pay the debts Onesimus owed that had been incurred due to Onesimus running away (Philemon 17-19). These facts serve to demonstrate the love that Paul had for this man and how he had aided Paul while he was in prison in Rome.
Onesimus reminds us that we need to look at everyone around us as a potential person that can be reached with the Gospel of Christ. We must be careful about seeing people as distractions to our more important tasks. Unplanned interruptions may be bothersome to our schedules, but they may also be divine appointments where the Gospel can be shared. Some of the people we think of as intrusions might be reached by someone who is sensitive to seeing the spiritual needs of others and that has compassion for people’s eternal souls. Acts of kindness and words of eternal life must become the regular fare for all of us that name the Name of Christ!
- Aristarchus: A burden bearing friend
Paul points next to a man by the name of Aristarchus, a man that is probably best known as a burden bearer (cf. Galatians 6:2). He is described in Colossians as a “fellow prisoner” with Paul in Rome (4:10). He had been with him during some other very dangerous times in his ministry. In Ephesus (Acts 19:29), when rioting broke out due to the Gospel’s advance through Paul’s ministry, Aristarchus was one of the men seized by the angry mob. On another occasion he was with Paul as he travelled by ship to Rome and a fierce storm arose called “Euroclydon” that kept them in peril for more than fourteen days (Acts 27:33).
Now in Rome Aristarchus is referred to as Paul’s “fellow prisoner,” which could mean metaphorically that he had been taken captive by the Lord to serve him. Or, more likely, that he was literally under arrest with Paul for preaching the Gospel of Christ. What is most important for us to remember about him is that he was among those that Paul said “comfort[ed]” (4:11) him during his imprisonment.
There is nothing like having friends that stand with you and can bolster your courage during the struggles of life. Paul did not fight his battles alone, he was accompanied by men like Aristarchus who assisted him mostly by being there. Sometimes the most important thing you can do for a person is to make your presence felt in their lives.
During Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, when he ultimately lost his life as a martyr for the cause of Christ, he had a very troubling testimony to give. He said that during that (2nd Roman) imprisonment that there was no one that stood with him and that all had forsaken him (2 Timothy 4:16-17). Thankfully, even when no one is physically there to help us bear our burdens, the Lord is always present (cf. 2 Timothy 4:17).
Never underestimate the importance of your presence in someone’s life when they are struggling through something. Their battles may not be the result of their Christian service, but their pain is nevertheless just as real. One of the great realities of scripture is that Jesus didn’t just send us a text message or Facebook post to let us know He loved us. He entered our world and walked among us so that He might identify with us. There is nothing like a friend that comes alongside to help when times are tough. People always appreciate the ones that walk through the “valley of the shadow of death” with them. Be a real friend...not just a keyboard friend!
- Mark: A man with a future
Following the introduction of Aristarchus is one of the most hopeful stories among those listed in these closing verses. By mentioning the name of (John) Mark, Paul was placing his stamp of approval on a young man that had once failed miserably in the service of His Lord.
On the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul, he and Barnabas decided to take Mark with them as their assistant (Acts 13:5). For much of the trip Mark must have served acceptably well, but when they reached Perga, on the mainland of Asia, he left them and went back to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). We don’t know exactly why Mark left the missionary trail, but it was clearly not something that set well with Paul. When he and Barnabas were about to leave on their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance and Paul refused (Acts 15:38). The argument between the two men became so heated that they parted ways. From that point on Barnabas took Mark and went a different route while Paul took Silas as his new travelling co-laborer.
Little else is heard from Mark until we see him with Paul in Rome. Apparently, Paul had forgiven him by this time and the two men had reconciled with one another. Mark is now among the trusted workers in the Gospel and a faithful helper to Paul. This one-time failure ultimately became the vessel that God used to pen the Gospel of Mark under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, using first-hand information that he learned from Peter (1 Peter 5:13). If there was ever a man that had a comeback, Mark was the man!
Mark reminds us that God is the God of second chances! We are often quick to write off people that fail, but God never does...and Paul obviously learned that important lesson from this young man.
There are some colossal failures recorded in the Bible. Think of Jonah who didn’t want to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to “those” people until he had a sinking feeling in the belly of a great fish. Or, think about Peter who denied the Lord three times and thought he had no future except in the fishing trade he had always known. But, the Lord found him at the Sea of Galilee and restored him to service of His Kingdom. Failure isn’t final unless you want it to be because God is in the business of great comebacks.
- Justus: A man of humility
The fifth man in this list is named Jesus, whom his co-laborers called “Justus.” This is the only mention of this man in the New Testament and nothing else is known about him. If I may be permitted to conjecture a bit, he may well have been a man that was deeply humbled to bear the name of the One that became his Savior. Of course, Jesus was a common name among the Jewish people of the 1st Century, but after Jesus Christ’s miraculous life and works, it became less used with each generation.
People usually appreciate others that don’t have to see their names written in lights for everyone else to see. They appreciate people that are happy to serve out of the limelight where there is less popularity and notoriety. Much of the work of God’s Kingdom is done by people with this spirit, not knowing that one day they will receive a reward greater than they ever imagined. I can’t say for sure that this is the character of this man called “Justus,” but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were true. Whether this characterizes him accurately or not, humility is a much needed quality in our churches today.
- Epaphras: A man that loved his church
Rounding out the eight men mentioned by Paul are three that were apparently Gentiles by birth. The first of these is a man named Epaphras, who was known for his evangelistic fervor that resulted in the church being started in Colossae (1:7).
Having travelled to Rome from Colossae, Epaphras is the person that informed Paul about the condition of the believers in his hometown. This newly learned information resulted in Paul writing this Letter to the Colossians. Consider that his zeal is evidenced in his travel over many miles to reach Paul in Rome in order to get his help with the situation in the Lycas Valley. He was the Colossians’ comfort during hard experiences, their counsellor in solving problems, their devoted friend in their daily lives, and their trusted leader in the church. However, no matter the distance to Rome, he felt he must make the journey to help his people overcome the Gnostic heresy spreading in their region of the world. And, while he was in Rome, he continued his hard work by agonizing in prayer for his people back home that they might come to full maturity in Christ (Acts 4:12).
We need more people with this type of zeal for the souls and the spiritual maturity of others. We need more people that will work hard at praying for the growth of God’s people in grace and truth. We need more people that are known for their enthusiasm for the spiritual welfare of others and not just their own interests and pursuits.
- Luke: A man with a valuable gift
One more name warrants special attention before considering the sad departure of the last person on this list. This next biblical character is none other than Luke, the beloved physician.
It seems that Paul might have been responsible for bringing the good doctor to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, possibly at Troas (Acts 16:8). Could it be that Paul had an attack of his illness (2 Corinthians 12:7) while he was there and needed the attention of the doctor? Might it be that in the process of treating him, Luke was introduced to Christ by Paul? Whether these details are accurate or not, only eternity will tell. But, from Troas forward, Dr. Luke became a travelling companion of the Apostle Paul and the first medical missionary of the New Testament church (Acts 16:10-notice he begins to include himself in the pronouns used). He gave his knowledge and giftedness to God as an instrument to be used in attending to the physical needs of the much travelled and persecuted Apostle. He also used his ability as a capable historian to pen his researched account of Christ’s life (the Gospel of Luke) and the book of Acts.
Whatever gift God has given you, if you’ll only place it at His disposal, He will use it for the furtherance of His Kingdom. It may be your carpentry skills, your artistry, your needlework, your languages, your personality, your resources, and a thousand other things...once given to God He uses them to further the spread of the Gospel and the care of His saints.
- Demas: A man that lost his way
Then, almost as a passing thought, Paul mentions Demas without any further word about him. Some scholars see in the brevity of what he says, as well as in him being listed last among the eight, that Paul might have already begun seeing the seeds of his spiritual demise. At the time of Paul’s second imprisonment (three or four years after his first one) in Rome (2 Timothy 4:10-11), Demas departs from him “having loved this present world…”
Did Demas grow tired of giving so much of his time to the Lord? Did he resent the deprivation of income? Was he weary of an association with a prisoner? Whatever the reason it was a devastating blow to Paul and his departure is the last we ever hear from this man.
Demas reminds us that anyone can fall away from God and fall in love with the world system. Listen to the words of the Apostle John:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
Let’s consider some truths that can be gleaned from this passage as we close our study of the Letter to the Colossians.
- Not every one that starts out well finishes well. (Or, not everybody that starts with you finishes with you.)
- Friendships matter in successfully living out the will of God for your life.
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV)
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. (Proverbs 13:20 NLT)
- You can only know God in His fulness when you are in community with other believers.
9But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—10 these things God has revealed to US through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God...16“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But WE have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 16 ESV)
