Colossians 4:7-12
 
Col 4:7 (KJB)
All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
 
Declare - Will make known
Fellowservant - Fellow slave of Christ
 
Paul had sent Tychicus to the Colossians to bring them news of Paul’s condition. Tychicus was also sent to Ephesus to bring and maybe read the Epistle to the Ephesians. He also had some mission to take care of in Crete. His name means “Fortunate.” He was called a faithful minister or servant and Paul called him his fellow slave in Christ. It seems likely that Tychicus had permission to be with Paul while he was in prison and helped him out by delivering the letters that he wrote.
 
Col 4:8 (KJB)
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
 
Estate - Concerns
 
It was obvious that the Colossian Christians had major concerns about Paul’s welfare because it was well-known back then that if you were in a Roman prison, the chances are good that you would never come out alive. So Paul had sent Tychicus to them for the purpose of giving them a report on Paul’s situation. If they had the most up to date information on Paul, they would be able to pray more intelligently for him, that is, more specifically. He also wanted Tychicus to comfort their hearts and to let them now that Paul realizes that whatever happens to him is always in the hand of the Lord and God knows exactly what He is doing in the lives of every one of His children. Paul wanted them to be at peace with his situation just as he was.
 
Col 4:9 (KJB)
With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
 
Onesimus was the slave of Philemon who ran away and met up with Paul in Rome where he became a Christian. Philemon was a Christian master and Paul had written him a letter asking him to take back Onesimus as a brother and not as a slave. Onesimus means “profitable” and by the time Paul had written his letter to the Colossians, Onesimus had become a “faithful and beloved brother.”
Notice how Paul stated that he was one of them. He was basically telling them that Onesimus was a child of God. Both he and Tychicus would come to Colossae and would give them all the information at hand concerning Paul’s case before Caesar.
 
Col 4:10 (KJB)
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
 
Paul begins to mention some friends and fellow laborers. He starts out with Aristarchus whose name means “the best ruler.” He was a Macedonian of Thessalonica. He was a convert from Judaism and a fellow prisoner. He was either in prison with Paul by sentence or voluntarily became a prisoner to aid Paul or the term is being spoken of metaphorically as a fellow prisoner of Christ. Then he mentions Marcus, who is John Mark, he had abandoned Paul and Barnabas during the first missionary journey. John Mark was a cousin to Barnabas. Paul had asked them to receive him because maybe word had reached Colossae that he had abandoned Paul but now that is history and Paul does not want that situation to fester in their minds.
 
Col 4:11 (KJB)
And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
 
Here Paul mentions Jesus Justus another Jewish person who became a great comfort to Paul. The name Jesus was a common Jewish name “Joshua or Jeshua” and it was coupled with his Latin surname “Justus” which means “the just or the righteous.” Paul states that these three men named in this and in the previous verse were the only Jews who were assisting Paul at that time. He states that they were a great comfort to him.
 
Col 4:12 (KJB)
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
 
Saluteth - Greets
Labouring fervently - Striving or agonizing
Perfect - Full-grown or mature
Complete - Accomplished or brought to completion
 
The name Epaphras means “foamy or charming.” From what can be gathered about him, it was he that started the church at Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Epaphras must have been a mighty prayer warrior because he had prayed fervently for them that they would continue to grow until they were fully mature in the faith and he prayed that their growth was in the will of God, even if the will of God for them was persecution, that it would work out to their spiritual growth and glory of God.

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