Colossians 4: 7-18 We find in this final word from Paul, personal references and messages. Paul names names in this text. These are people who worked with Paul, and people who helped him and comforted him. Some were known to the Colossians personally, others might be names they knew but had not yet personally met. We are reminded in this text that Paul is in prison for the sake of the gospel. In other letters, Paul concludes with personal greetings and names persons. We remember that Paul has never been to this church. It was founded by Paul‟s good friend Epaphras. He has reported to Paul about the situation. The church is being pestered by false teaching seeking to move them away from faith in Christ. The false teachers in effect want to replace Christ with themselves. They want to replace their freedom in Christ with their own cleverness, controlling their behavior (and probably wallets) with a bunch of rules and vain speculations and holding out the vague promise of providing them special knowledge. They want to replace God‟s direct love for them in Christ, with a bunch of heavenly roadblocks to which they have the key. Epaphras has delivered a good account of the church, and Paul has commended them and encouraged them in their faith. A Shorthand Overview of the Letter: God approaches the church with grace and peace. God has called them to be saints. Paul prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for them. His prayer continued for their further strengthening in the faith. He moved into a beautiful theological exposition about the supremacy of Christ in all things. In the light of the beauty and glory of Christ, the church is now in that picture. Indeed Christ himself is in them, and that is the hope of glory. Jesus is like a treasure house in which is all the fullness of God. Jesus has triumphed in all things through his death on the cross. Paul continued by attacking the nature of the false teaching Having swept all that aside, he continues his teaching to the church by using the image of putting on clothing. He describes the old life of sin, and entreats them to put that off. He describes the contours of the new life in Christ, and entreats them to put those garments on. Life in the church is characterized by kindness and forgiveness He encourages husbands and wives and children and slaves. All are to live lives of kindness and love towards each other. As he closes, he asks for their prayers, that God would open a door for him that he could continue to preach the gospel. As Paul ends the letter, he moves from the general to the personal. He names persons. (Paul already named Timothy in 1:1) Tychicus – “beloved brother, faithful minister, fellow servant (sundoulos (fellow slave) en kuriw) in Christ.” Acts 20:4 mentions him as a native of the province of Asia who was with Paul in Greece and journeyed with him to Troas at the end of the third missionary journey. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem to bring the collection for the church. 2 Timothy 4:12 - Paul sent him to Ephesus on some unspecified business. Later Paul planned to send him or Artemus to Crete to take Titus‟ place (Titus 3:12). Paul is sending him to the Colossian church and he can fill in the blanks for them about Paul. Onesimus (one of them) a “faithful and beloved brother.” Philemon 10. The name means “useful.” Onesimus is also going with Tychius to Colossae – perhaps he is carrying Paul‟s letter to Philemon with him. The following six send their greetings (aspazomai – the basic meaning “appears to be embrace.” O‟Brien) to the church. The first three were Jewish converts: Aristarchus (my fellow prisoner – ho sunaichmalwtos mou – literally „my fellow prisoner of war‟) Acts 17:1-9 – A native of Thessalonica and a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 19:29; 20:40). He was with Paul in Ephesus. He went to Jerusalem with Paul. He accompanied Paul and Luke when they sailed from Caesarea to Rome. Mark (cousin of Barnabas) Acts 12:12, 25. Acts 13:13 – When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Perga on the mainland of Asia, Mark returned to Jerusalem. Paul did not want to take him on the next journey. Paul and Barnabas had a dispute about this, and they went separate ways (Acts 15:36-41). He is mentioned in Philemon 24 as Paul‟s “fellow worker. In 2 Timothy 4:11 he is commended as a faithful Christian worker. My feelings about the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about Mark is that maybe Paul hesitated to take Mark again because he knew that there would be real problems he would have to face, and maybe Paul didn‟t want to put Mark into a position that would be more than he could handle being so young and inexperienced. Obviously by this time Mark has matured, and Paul was thankful to have him. As we see, Paul notes that Mark, along with Justus and Aristarchus, has been a “comfort” to Paul. Jesus (called Justus). This is the only time we meet him Paul writes of these three in verse 11, “They have been a comfort to me.” This is a great word from Paul about these men, but also this is a word of encouragement to us. We can never know what God does with our actions towards other people. Maybe they thought that they were just being nice to an old man in prison, but how could they know that this line from Paul about them would continue to move through the ages for the instruction of God‟s people until the end of all things. A word of encouragement, an act of kindness or compassion that we do to the other may have continuing wonderful results that we can never know, but God knows, and God uses them for his purpose. “comfort” (paragoria „is an old word (here only in the NT) from paragorew, to make an address) and means solace, relief. A medical term‟ (Robertson).) From para plus agora – alongside and assembly – a soothing address, to talk over – we get the English word paregoric from it – “a camphorated tincture of opium used to relieve pain.” “The idea of consolation, comfort, is on the whole predominant in the word, perhaps because it and its derivatives „were used especially as medical terms, in the sense of „assuaging,‟ „alleviating.‟” (Bruce) His friends are like a soothing balm, a comforting gathering, medicine for the soul. These next three were Gentile converts: Epaphras (one of them) “a servant of Christ Jesus” – literally „slave of Christ Jesus‟ “doulos Christou Iasou” This is a term that Paul applied only to himself (Romans 1:1) and Timothy (Philippians 1:7). Paul mentions his fervent prayers on their behalf, and his hard work (agwnizomenos – we get the word „agony‟ from this) for them and those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician – author of the gospel that bears his name and Acts. Demas Both Luke and Demas are noted in Philemon 24 and 2 Timothy 4:10,11. Paul said about Demas in 2 Timothy, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me.” Nympha (who has a church in her house). Every Christian household should have a church in it in a way. Wherever God‟s people make their home should be like the narthex to the church. Remember verse 3:16; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” “Dwell” meant „to be at home.‟ If the word of Christ is at home in us, then our homes will be a place where the word of Christ will greet all who enter into our homes. Archippus – a personal word “See that you fulfill the ministry you have received in the Lord.” He appears to be a member of Philemon‟s household from Philemon 2. What we receive from the Lord is a trust. We are called on to be faithful stewards of God‟s gifts. We are ultimately responsible to the Lord for fulfilling that trust. If God has given us a ministry to fulfill then it is our task to fill it full. Paul finishes the letter by signing his name in his own hand. “The heroes of the faith, mostly unsung and unknown, are celebrated by Paul and we are inspired. On the ship of the church there are no passengers; all are members of the crew. The church is not a trumpet corps, but an orchestra; each member a different instrument playing a unique sound. Added to the sound of others, the symphony of the gospel is lived and shared with the world.” (Dunnam) “These greetings help to give the readers a clear picture of the circumstances in which the letter was written and to include friends and co-workers of the apostle in the fellowship he enjoys with the readers (O‟Brien)” But also it helps the church to see the wider scope of the church, to see beyond their own situation to the broader church and the mission of which they are a part. Paul‟s friends become their friends; their friends become Paul‟s friends. The church is a web of interconnected relationships. There is a web of connection not only within one fellowship, but also with other fellowships. In the Creed we say that we believe in the “holy catholic church.” We are one universal Body in Christ whether we like it or not, or admit it or not.