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Our apostle next mentions the particular salutation sent from Rome to the church at Colosse by Epaphras, who is described from his country; he is one of you, that is, a citizen of Colosse; by his office, a servant of Christ, that is, a minister of the gospel; by his fervour of affection towards these Colossians, evidenced by his prayers for them, he labours fervently for you in his prayers.
The word signifies to strive as in an agony, pointing out our ministerial duty to us, not only to preach unto, and to pray with, but fervently to pray for our people. God forgave our forgetfulness of, our backwardness to, our remissness in, this part of our duty. Too seldom do we bear our people upon our hearts, when we go in and out before the Lord: Oh! how far are we from praying ourselves into an agony for them, when our petitions freeze within our lips, which we put up for our own souls!
One thing might here be noted further concerning Epaphras, he was minister of (some think bishop of) Colosse; yet was he born there, he is one of you, that is, of your city. Now, Christ tells us, a minister is in hazard to meet with disrespect in his own country, he is usually of no honour there: However, Epaphras being called to the work of God in the place where he was born embraces it, and God give him reputation with the people for his faithfulness in his place.
Observe, lastly, What was the subject matter of Epaphras's prayer for his people at Colosse, namely, That they might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God: it is the desire and prayer, the care and endeavour of every faithful minister of Christ, that his people may stand fast in their obedience, in universal obedience, in perfect and complete obedience to the will, the whole will of God, in all things; yet one thing more is observable in Epaphras, he had not only a great zeal for his own people at Colosse, but for them at Laodicea and Hierapolis, which were neighbouring churches.
Learn thence, That the ministers of Christ are to look upon themsleves, as ministers of the whole church; and although they take care of a particular congregation, yet is it their duty to desire and endeavour, that all Christians within the reach of their ministerial labours, may find some special benefit and advantage by them. Epaphras had a fervent zeal for the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis, as well as at Colosse, and it was his commendation that he had so.