One of the things that I like most about Colossians is that Paul mentions so many of the early Christian missionaries and he ties up some loose ends so to speak. In his greetings and partings Paul mentions, Timothy, Onesimus, (Philemon thru infernal), Demas, Epaphras, Tychicus, Archippus, Aristarchus, Barnabus, Jesus who is called Justus, mark, Dr. Luke, Jesus (Justus) and Nympha. Now everyone knows who Timothy was and I will expand on it when we cover 1 and 2 Timothy. If we only had the book of Philemon we would have never known how the story ended. it is obvious from this book that Philemon didn’t punish Onesimus – in fact he must have freed him to let him minister to others and become the bishop of Ephesus after Timothy while Philemon continued to support the church at Colossae (according to historians). These same historians say Onesimus was imprisoned in Rome and was killed by stoning to death. Demas is a little harder; he traveled with Paul and was imprisoned with him during his first time in jail in Rome, but later left the church, or at least Paul, by the time Paul wrote Second Timothy. Epaphras also spread the gospel in Colossae citizens (Col. 1:7; 4:12) Mark was Barnabus’ nephew. We know from Acts 10:20 and Acts 15:39 that he left Paul and Barnabus on their first missionary journey and Paul was so upset when Barnabus defended his nephew Mark’s actions that they parted ways. It is good to see in Colossians that the men had mad up and that Mark was with Paul. Tychicus was an Asiatic Christian (Ephesian) who, with Trophimus, traveled with Paul from Macedonia to Jerusalem. Paul sent him from Rome where he was in prison to Ephesus to encourage the church there. He is mentioned five times (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12) so he must have been a vital part of Paul’s ministry. Archippus was from Colossae or Laodicea and is mentions in Philemon 1:2 and Colossians 4:17. He worked with Philemon and Apphia to host the church at Colossae. Historians name him as the first bishop to Laodicea. Aristarchus or Aristarch was from Thessalonica (acts 27:2). He went with Paul on his journey to Rome (along with Gaius). At Ephesus a mob seized him (acts 19:29) and taken into a theater where he was questioned. Later he traveled with Paul from Greece to Asia (acts 20:4) and got on Edremit’s ship bound for Myra (acts 27:2) along with Paul to Rome where he was also put in jail. Pau called him a fellow prisoner in Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 1:24. According to historians he was the bishop of Apamea and Martyred Jesus Justus was one of several Jewish Christians in the church at Rome mentioned by Apostle Paul in the greetings at the end of Colossians 4:11. He, Aristarchus and Mark were all Jews and somehow took care of Paul while he was in prison in Rome this first time. Why he was not mentioned a second time (along with the others) in Philemon 1:23-24, I don’t know. Nympha is easy. Paul tells us that she hosted a church that met in her house in Laodicea. Colossae is now considered part of Turkey. It was 125 miles east of Ephesus. It was located on an east west trade route and very important until the trade route was moved further north. (Kind of like what the interstates did to Route 66, right?) Then it fell into decline and became very small and unimportant. Paul did not start the church at this location - Epaphras did under his guidance (Colossians 2:1). Colossae was most likely his home and its members were mostly Gentiles. Philemon was one of its members. Paul wrote to these people with the help of Timothy around 60-61 AD after getting mixed news concerning them from Epaphras. Some argue that Tychicus and Onesimus are the authors of the epistle and not Paul and Timothy, but I believe it was Paul. Everyone agrees that the contents are inspired and should be included as part of the New Testament so I don’t see why they argue over who actually wrote it. The people of Colossi were still faithful but were confused with new teachings that included angel worshipping and the worshipping of elemental spirits (paganism) (Colossians 2:18-23). Paul wrote this letter, which was delivered by Tychicus, to stamp these false teachings out. It was to be a circular letter and shared with the other churches in the area (Laodicea Colossians 4:16). (Colossae was in the same area of the seven churches mentioned inn Revelations 1-3, so it Colossians) most likely was shared with all these churches.) Colossians is considered to be one of the prison epistles that included Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. Paul starts out by confirming that what Epaphras has taught him is the truth (Colossians 1:1-10). Then he tells them in the remainder of chapter one that Christ if all they need – that he is God and as such the creator of the angels and everything else. The worship of Christ is complete because he is the master of all. Human rites, ascetic practices and the abasement of your body is not necessary – you are spiritually circumcised (Chapter Two). (We don’t know exactly what weirdo heresies were being heard by these people and confusing them.) Chapter three deals with living a spiritual and holy life in your home with your wife, your children, and at work. Chapter Four tells the people that Tychicus and Onesimus will keep them informed. Although Paul had never been to Colossae or Laodicea Paul was well informed of news about them through Tychicus Next I’m going to read Ephesians.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:14:11 +0000