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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Col_4:10-17
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas' cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bond slave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17Say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."
Col_4:10-14 Timothy and six other co-workers sent their personal greetings to the church. Six of these seven co-workers are also mentioned in Philemon. Tychicus was probably the bearer of the letters of Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon to Asia Minor.
Col_4:10 "Aristarchus" A Jewish Christian about whom we know little (cf. Act_19:29; Act_20:4; Act_27:2).
▣ "my fellow prisoner" This refers either metaphorically to Christian service or literally to imprisonment (cf. Rom_16:7; Phm_1:23).
▣ "Mark, the cousin of Barnabas" John Mark's home may have been the site of the Lord's Supper and Upper Room post-resurrection appearances of Jesus (cf. Act_12:12). He was the writer of the Gospel of Mark and the friend and scribe of Peter (cf. 1Pe_5:13). He was the cause of a great disagreement between Barnabas and Paul after their first missionary journey (cf. Act_12:25; Act_13:5; Act_15:36-39).
▣ "if he comes to you, welcome him" This is a third class conditional sentence. Paul was very angry with John Mark for leaving the first mission team. However, they apparently reconciled (cf. 2Ti_4:11).
Col_4:11 "Jesus who is called Justus" The TEV has "Joshua." "Jesus" and "Joshua" are derived from the Hebrew terms "YHWH" and "salvation" and are the same in Hebrew (cf. Mat_1:21). This Justus is known to God, but unknown to us.
▣ "the kingdom of God" This is such a key phrase in the Synoptic Gospels (see Special Topic at Eph_5:5). Jesus' first and last sermons, and most of His parables, dealt with this topic. It refers to the reign of God in human hearts now. It is surprising that John uses this phrase only twice (and never in Jesus' parables). In John's Gospel "eternal life" is a key term and metaphor.
The phrase relates to the eschatological (end-time) thrust of Jesus' teachings. This "already, but not yet" theological paradox relates to the Jewish concept of two ages, the current evil age and the righteous age to come, which will be inaugurated by the Messiah. The Jews expected only one coming of a Spirit-empowered military leader (like the Judges in the OT). The two comings of Jesus caused an overlapping of the two ages. The Kingdom of God has broken into human history with the incarnation at Bethlehem. However, Jesus came, not as the military conqueror of Revelation 19, but as the Suffering Servant (cf. Isaiah 53) and humble leader (cf. Zec_9:9). The Kingdom, therefore, is inaugurated (cf. Mat_3:2; Mat_4:17; Mat_10:7; Mat_11:12; Mat_12:28; Mar_1:15; Luk_9:9; Luk_9:11; Luk_11:20; Luk_21:31-32), but not consummated (cf. Mat_6:10; Mat_16:28; Mat_26:64).
Believers live in the tension between these two ages. They have resurrection life, but they still are dying physically. They are freed from the power of sin, yet they still sin. They live in the eschatological tension of the already and the not yet!
▣ "from the circumcision" The men listed in Col_4:7-11 were all Jewish believers (according to their names).
▣ "they have proved to be an encouragement to me" The term literally means "relief of pain." This Greek word is the source of the English medicine "paregoric."
Col_4:12 "Epaphras" He was founder of the church at Colossae (cf. Col_1:7 and introduction).
▣ "always laboring earnestly for you" This is a strong athletic term which comes into English as "agony." Epaphras was a prayer warrior (cf. Col_4:13). His prayer for these believers was that they (1) stand, (2) mature, and (3) be assured in all the will of God.
Col_4:13 "Laodicea and Hierapolis" These were the other two towns (along with Colossae) of the Lycus valley in which Epaphras had started three churches.
Col_4:14 "Luke" He was Paul's close missionary companion and physician. He was a Gentile and the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
▣ "Demas" Later he would desert Paul (cf. 2Ti_4:10).
Col_4:15 "Nympha" This can be either masculine or feminine. Notice the early church met in private homes (cf. Rom_16:5; 1Co_16:19; Phm_1:2).
Col_4:16 "when this letter is read among you" All of Paul's letters, not just Ephesians (a circular letter), were passed around from church to church and read aloud to the whole congregation. The churches believed that the Apostles had a unique, inspired word from God. Their desire to hear all of Paul's letters written to other churches, and on other occasions, shows how the Bible relates to everyone and every age.
▣ "read my letter that is coming from Laodicea" This letter was probably "Ephesians" which was a circular letter. In Marcion's Canon, Ephesians was called "the letter to the Laodiceans." No early church father ever quotes from a letter known as the letter to the Laodiceans.
Col_4:17 "Archippas" Archippas was the pastor of the house-church (Phm_1:2). The early leadership positions were functions performed by local gifted believers, not vocations or offices.