There are many people who are wonderful examples for us to learn from in the Bible. Jesus Christ obviously heads the list for sure, but there are many others for us to learn from as well. There is one person who is barely mentioned in the Scriptures, but still offers us a good example of someone who has a heart to serve and minister to the saints. That person is Epaphras. He is a dynamic example of discipline and love of heart to serve in the Body of Christ.
Epaphras worked with the Apostle Paul in the outreach of God’s Word in Asia Minor, specifically in the area of Colossae and Laodicea, which we know as Central Turkey and its southern coast. He is called by Paul his “fellowservant” (sundoulos, meaning “fellows bond servant”), “servant of Christ” (servant is the word doulos meaning bond servant) and fellow prisoner (sunaichmalitos means according to E.W. Bullinger, “taken prisoner in conjunction with another, as in war, [literally, by the spear], a fellow-prisoner of war”). These are very worthy labels given to someone committed to doing God’s will for a lifetime.
Colossians 1:4-8:
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
What do we see in these verses? Epaphras was faithful; he taught the people how to live the love of God; he shared with them the hope of Christ’s return, along with the grace of God. Another aspect mentioned here is that he was not critical of them, but shared with Paul the believer’s love that they had for him.
Paul in Philemon mentions Epaphras in closing saying, “There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 23). Epaphras must have been so committed that Paul figuratively labeled him as a prisoner of war with him. Paul by this time was literally a prisoner in bonds.
The other verse that contains Epaphras’ name is the closing section of Colossians. This communicates perhaps the greatest action a servant (doulos) can perform in the Body of Christ.
Colossians 4:12:
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.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
