If the first three men could be described as ‘gracious comforters’, Epaphras should be seen as the ‘faithful servant’. Epaphras was from Colossae and it seems that he was the one who had brought the gospel to Colossae and possibly also to the neighbouring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis. He had gone to Rome to consult Paul about the situation […]

There are several people who were with Paul during his imprisonment who wish to join with him in sending greetings to the church in Colossae. They are, of course all individuals with their own particular characteristics, but they can be grouped together to illustrate certain values: The first three, Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus could be described as ‘gracious comforters’. All […]

The one whom Paul sent with Tychicus to Colossae was no stranger to at least some of the people in Colossae. His story is told in one of the other letters that the two men were going to carry with them. Onesimus, whose name means ‘useful’, had been a slave of Philemon, a man who had come to faith in […]