PAUL'S CO-WORKERS

Passage: Colossians 4:7-18

Key verse: 12

NIV

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus(A) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](B) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(C) 9 He is coming with Onesimus,(D) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(E) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(F) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(G) the cousin of Barnabas.(H) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(I) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(J) who is one of you(K) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(L) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(M) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(N) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(O) the doctor, and Demas(P) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(Q) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(R)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(S) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(T) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(U)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(V) Remember(W) my chains.(X) Grace be with you.(Y)

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
  3. Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus will tell you (A)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[a] 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 (B)Onesimus, our faithful and (C)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 (D)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (E)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(F)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (G)Justus. (H)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (I)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (J)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (K)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (L)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 (M)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (N)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (O)the church in her house. 16 And when (P)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 (Q)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (R)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (S)write this greeting with my own hand. (T)Remember (U)my chains. (V)Grace be with you.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  2. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The messengers (7-9)

Tychicus and Onesimus would deliver Paul's letter. Tychicus had been Paul's representative on several occasions (Eph 6:21). Onesimus had been a useless runaway slave, but through Paul he had met Jesus in Rome, and now he was returning to Philemon in Colosse as a dear brother (Phm 16).

2. Fellow workers (1

-18)

Aristarchus had been with Paul in difficult times (Ac 19:29; 2

:4; 27:2), and now he was with him in prison. Mark, who had run away and was helped by Barnabas and Peter, had come back and grown into a useful servant of God (Ac 15:36-39). Epaphras, the pioneer of the church in Colosse, was continuing to wrestle in prayer for his sheep in Colosse and in nearby cities. Luke the historian and evangelist was Paul's personal physician; Demas later ran away (2Ti 4:1

). Paul's letter writing ministry should encourage us to write letters.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a faithful co-worker in the gospel.

One Word: Write a letter