Colossians 4:7-18. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on August 19, 2018.
Throughout history it is clear that God uses specific individuals to open doors of ministry and accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. However, today I hope you will see that even in such cases, no one ministers alone. God expects us to work together so that the work He intends will be accomplished in our area and beyond. Each Christian needs to seek the Lord regarding how we can help in ministering the Gospel to this world, whether that involves leading a new work, or coming alongside someone whom God has filled with a vision for reaching the lost. No matter how small and lacking in talent you may be, God has a place for you in His plan.
Starting in verse 7, Paul gives a series of explanations to the Colossians regarding different individuals who were helping him. The first two are those who had delivered this very letter from Paul, who is in Rome under house-arrest, to the Colossians. Such a journey required a lot more help than it would in today’s world. The first individual is Tychicus. He is described as a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord. Paul saw Tychicus as more than a worker who would help him get things done. He had a familial relationship with him that was like a brother. We must never lose sight of this in the work of the Lord. If we treat it as a business and abuse one another in order to get things done, then we have lost sight of what God has called us to.
The second individual is named Onesimus and he is described as a faithful and beloved brother as well. Here we are told that Onesimus is “one of you,” which means he is from Colosse. This is the very same run-away slave of the letter to Philemon. Apparently Onesimus had run away from his Christian master, Philemon, and ran into Paul. Onesimus became a Christian through Paul. But, note that Paul does not describe Onesimus as a “run-away slave” here in this letter. He is called a brother in the work of the Lord. In fact, it may be possible that Onesimus had delivered the letter to Philemon at the same time as the letter to the Colossians.
Paul points out that the Colossians will be able to hear what was happening with Paul in Rome in order to comfort their hearts. When we are unaware of what is happening to others we love, it is very disconcerting. Thus they would receive comfort by the testimony of Tychicus and Onesimus. These two help Paul in some very practical ways. They helped him stay in contact with the churches by carrying letters on ships and over land. In our modern world of technological wonders we can forget that even our system of communication requires people helping and serving in very practical ways. Not all service to the kingdom looks super spiritual, but it is needed nonetheless.
Starting in verse 10 we have three individuals who are described as being part of “the circumcision.” Basically it means that they are Jews. However, the New Testament also describes a group of Jewish Christians who attempted to make Gentile converts to Christ follow the commands of the Law of Moses. Circumcision became a flag for this view. It doesn’t seem likely that these three held this view previously, so it is probably simply a way of referring to their Jewish ancestry and not their theological views.
By the way, it has been pointed out in the past that it is curious that there is no mention of Peter being in Rome at all. Those who teach that Peter was the first bishop of Rome have a time explaining this issue.
The first of this group is Aristarchus, who is also under house-arrest with Paul. Most of these individuals have come to Paul and are freely helping him. However, Aristarchus is stuck. Though he is Jewish, he was a Macedonian from Thessalonica, who had been helping Paul throughout his missionary journeys. In fact, he was with Paul in Ephesus, when they were arrested for creating a mob. “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28). Thus Aristarchus is a helper who has been with him through thick and thin.
Next we have Mark the cousin of Barnabas. If you are not aware, Paul and Mark had some difficult history. Mark, also called John, had abandoned Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary journeys. Later, when they went out again, Paul refused to let John Mark accompany them. Barnabas disagreed. This led to them going separate ways. (See Acts 13-15, esp. Acts 15:36-40). Several times in his letters, Paul goes out of his way to encourage churches to receive John Mark and not hold his previous failings against him. So here we see that John Mark had traveled to Rome in order to help Paul, and Paul is very appreciative. Christians are always going to have their times of strife. But, we must work in order to make things right and forgive one another. This is a classic picture of such in the early Church. By the way, Mark is the one who wrote the Gospel called by his name.
The third Jewish person was a guy named Jesus, or also called Justus. We know nothing about this Justus, other than that he was Jewish and had gone to Rome to help Paul. Perhaps he is a friend of John Mark and came with him. Paul seems to imply that others of “the circumcision” should have been there to help him. I don’t want to read more into this than is appropriate. However, Paul may be thinking of at least two things. First Paul is a Jew and so Jewish Christians naturally should go out of their ways to encourage him. Second of all, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem under false charges. Thus the Christians of Jerusalem should also feel an obligation to encourage him.
In all this, Paul praises these three for being a comfort to him. We all need comforted as we work for the Lord. No one is so spiritual as not to need comfort, not even our Lord Jesus. We must allow others to come alongside of us and comfort us. However, God’s supply of helpers in our life is not a steady stream. In the letter of 2 Timothy, Paul notes a time of having no one with him. Ultimately, we must always draw our comfort from the Lord first.
In verse 12 Paul quickly mentions some other helpers who want to greet the Colossians. Epaphras is a Colossian and a fellow slave of Christ. Though it is not mentioned here, in the letter to Philemon it is clear that Epaphras was also imprisoned with Paul. Note that Epaphras is praised for his many prayers for the believers in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. He prayed “fervently” (the word denotes that pain is involved) for them. Thus just as some help is very practical, so some help is very spiritual, but both are needed and should be commended.
Next Luke the doctor is mentioned. He is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He was with Paul throughout many of his journeys. In fact, if you read through the book of Acts, you will notice a change at times in the pronouns that are used. Sometimes he writes “we” did this and “we” did that. Then it switches to “he” did this and “he” did that. Paul calls Luke beloved. Perhaps Luke had to use his skills as a doctor time and time again to assist Paul in keeping healthy.
Little is said of the last individual Demas, other than that he greets them. It is believed that this is the same Demas of 2 Timothy 4:10 of whom Paul wrote, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” The ministry of the Gospel is not always easy and there are always those who will start out strong and then fall away from Christ. We must always keep an eye out and minister to one another so that no one is discouraged. However, the problem with Demas is rooted in his desire for the things of the world. He had been trying to plow with Paul while looking back at what he had left behind. No one can serve two masters for long.
Paul asks the Colossian believers to greet the Laodicean believers. He also asks them to greet the individual named Nymphas, and the church that met at his house. House churches were the norm. Thus there is something particular about Nymphas that causes Paul to mention them, as a means of encouragement. In fact, any church leader is always in need of encouragement. Some translations refer to Nymphas as a man and some as a woman. This is because some older manuscripts use a female construction of this sentence. Regardless, the point is not the gender, but the need for encouragement.
Beginning in verse 16, Paul gives some final instructions while closing the letter. He tells them to share his letters with the churches around them and to read the letter that he wrote to them. The early church did not have a New Testament. The letters of the different apostles were being written at the time and typically were only known in the areas where they were sent. Yet, over time they would be shared beyond their areas and eventually with all the Church. Here we see the apostle instructing and approving of such. Even though the letters were to a particular people at a particular time, they have value to any believer who would read them. In fact it is here that we read that there had been a letter to the Laodiceans that did not survive this process. It has been lost to the sands of time.
In verse 17 Paul gives a particular person a reminder of the duty of ministry. The man is Archippus, who is mentioned in the Philemon letter. There is clearly more to the back story that we are not aware of. Perhaps Archippus had a calling to ministry upon him and he was either not doing it, or being apprehensive in doing it. Regardless Paul encourages him in his duty to minister. Three things about ministry are told to us here. First, we must take heed or pay attention to the ministry that God has given us. Ministry doesn’t just happen. People must pay attention in prayer, in word, and indeed. We must watch out for others and allow God to speak through us in order to share the Gospel, and mature those who receive it. Second, ministry is received from the Lord. It is never “our” ministry except as that which has been delegated to us by the Lord. It is His ministry that we partner with Him in order to do it. Christ opens the doors and supplies the work of the Holy Spirit to make it effective. In ministry we must never get our eyes off of the fact that we do what we do for Christ, not for another person, or for ourselves. Third, Christ expects us to fulfill it. We must be diligent and obey the Lord in order to “fulfill” the ministry that He has given us. We don’t always understand why God sends us to some people and certain places. However, it is our job to be faithful and fulfill the purpose for which He has sent us, and not the purpose we imagine that He has sent us.
Lastly, Paul tells them to remember his chains. The chains are real, but are also symbolic of this world’s hatred for Christ and His people. They should never forget that even though they may not be in chains, there are others who are currently imprisoned for the cause of Christ. They should never forget that even when people are no longer in chains in their part of the world, the Gospel was brought forth by those who endured such hostility, and it will indeed come round again.
Ministry does not happen without the Lord, but neither does it happen without people saying “yes!” to Him. If we were to write a letter about the people who are helping with the ministry of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Everett, WA, or who have ever helped, that would be a long list, and we are a small church. What would be said of you or me? May God help us to be faithful to come alongside the ministry that He is calling us to do. We may not be the leader like Paul was, but we all need each other in order to help the ministry of the Gospel to go to fellow believers and to the lost.
This concludes our time in the letter to the Colossians.