My husband taught on Colossians 4 this past Sunday and there were a few things I wanted to study further and comment on because of their great importance. After his discourse on interpersonal and familial relationships, Paul begins chapter four with a few last commands and then mentions quite a few people. Being that most of them have weird names and most of us generally gloss right over the closing salutations of epistles, I want to look at those people specifically and glean some wisdom as to why he does this.
Firstly, Paul tells the Colossians to pray. He instructs them to be both watchful and thankful in prayer. He asks them to pray for he and his companions who are in prison for preaching the gospel, and especially that they would have opportunities to share the gospel. He also asks that they would pray that he would be able to convey the message with clarity.
Next, he tells them to be wise – especially toward outsiders. He is speaking of those outside the faith, also known as unbelievers. He instructs them to always speak with grace, tastefully, if you will. The reason he gives is so that they will know how to answer everyone.
Now, before he closes his letter, Paul begins to name names. He mentions more than a few individuals and a couple groups of people. It is quite important that we consider these people, who they were, and try to understand why he does this. Why are these names included in the sacred scripture? Let’s see.
The first person mentioned is Tychicus. Paul said he was sending this man to tell the Colossians how he was – to give a report on Paul who was, of course, in prison for preaching the gospel. He includes a man named Onesimus with Tychicus. He calls Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother and adds that Onesimus is “one of you.”
Onesimus. Now here’s a guy Paul devoted a whole book – Philemon – to. The whole whopping one chapter of Philemon is a matter of Paul vouching for Onesimus. Why does he do this? He does it because Onesimus had been Philemon’s slave. Onesimus had run away. He had been a slave. He’d done wrong in his past. But he had been converted to Christ and Paul had discipled him. He had ministered to Paul in prison and Paul knew first hand that Onesimus was a changed man, that he was trustworthy, and that he was a true brother in Christ. Paul also knew that Philemon would not take well to Onesimus’s return. He knew that it was very likely that he’d be looked down upon, excluded from fellowship, and thought ill of when he returned to Philemon. Therefore Paul sends a letter to instruct Philemon to accept this man. He does so once again here in Colossians. Paul goes to great pains to include and honor Onesimus in the church, even after all the failure of his past.
It is very important that we get this. It is important that we understand why Paul did this. Why was this so incredibly important to Paul – so much so that he makes special mention of this man not once, but twice in the epistles?
Paul was once like Onesimus. You and I were once like Onesimus. Lost sinners do wrong things to others. When we become Christians, people do not automatically believe that we are changed. Church people, on many occasions, do not feel particularly inclined to include us after we have just come out of grievous sin and rolled on into their fellowship. They’re scared. They’re proud. They’re self-protective. Paul knew how people are – even Christian people. Good leaders understand the difficulty diversity brings. So, instead of excusing the suspicion and prejudice he knew his buddies were going to have against this man, he takes special time to honor and publicly vouch for him calling them all to grace, peace, acceptance, and inclusion of this particular brother in Christ.
Barnabas did as much for Paul in Acts 9. Remember, Paul was a murderer, a Christian hater, an abusive religious leader. Not many Christians were real anxious to trust and include him just because he said he knew Jesus now. But Barnabas stood next to Paul. He did what Paul is doing for Onesimus here. Paul knew how it felt to be the one under a cloud of constant suspicion and mistrust. Therefore, he instructs his church to include this man. What a beautiful picture of grace.
Matthew Henry says this: “The meanest circumstance of life, and greatest wickedness of former life, make no difference in the spiritual relation among sincere Christians; they partake of the same privileges, and are entitled to the same regards.”
Next, we have Aristarchus. Aristarchus was just mentioned as a fellow prisoner.
Then we have Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. Remember, at one point Paul had big issues with Mark. Mark had deserted while they were preaching the gospel and went home. The next time when Mark wanted to go on a mission with Paul, Paul absolutely refused to take him. Here, though, we see great evidence that Paul and Mark were completely reconciled. By making mention of Mark here, and even giving great recommendation and honor to Mark in view of the churches, Paul proves his forgiving spirit and that reconciliation was full and final.
This is what Christians are called to do even when disagreements are sharp and strong. This is the gospel applied to our relationships. Christians are not at liberty to stay at odds with one another no matter how severe the disagreement is. We are called to reconcile – and reconcile to the point of previous peace or better. This is a very important principle found in Paul’s mention of Mark here.
Next we have a man named Jesus who was called Justus of whom little is known and then Epaphras. Epaphras is honored for his faithful prayers for the church. He was actually the founder of the Colossian Church. Then, we have Luke the doctor and Demas mentioned. Demas later forsook Paul and in 2 Timothy 4:10. Paul calls Demas out by name for his sin.
Now this, remember is the same guy who just instructed his church to always make sure their conversations were seasoned with salt and full of grace – especially with outsiders/unbelievers – yet he writes his very public letter to Timothy that this particular guy forsook him and states his specific sin – loving the world. The fact that Paul mentions Demas here with honor tells us that Paul had no personal issue with Demas before he called out his sin and his name individually for all to know. There’s a lesson here. It is not wrong to call out sin in leadership – even by name when necessary. (See 1 Timothy 5:20)
Next we have Nympha. Paul greets Nympha and describes her as one who has a church in her house. Gasp! A girl! With a church! In her house?! What?!! Yep. I think that greeting speaks for itself.
Finally, Paul mentions Archippus. Here is an interesting instruction. Paul tells the members of the Colossian Church to admonish this minister – their minister! The people are called to admonish their leader and remind him to make certain he is working diligently for the gospel. Imagine that. Wow. Kinda puts to rest some misconceptions of the religious rules we are indoctrinated with today, huh?
I don’t know about you but I am just amazed at the amount of wisdom found just in the listing of these names in this ending salutation. There is great wisdom, instruction, and importance in understanding who these people were and why Paul takes the time to mention them. They are thus:
- Your past should not dictate your future within God’s church. You can do great things for God even if you were the worst kind of sinner in the lowest social position! Good leaders will build up the lowly and call others to do the same.
- Your disputes with other believers, regardless of how sharp, can and should be fully reconciled. Restoration among all believers is the gospel lived out.
- Present good standing in the church does not excuse poor future behavior and sin. There should be no good old boy system within God’s church! Good leaders are never partial and they give honor and call out sin as needed no matter who is involved.
- Girls can have churches! Churches can be in houses! Hallelujah!
- Members can and should admonish their leaders.
Lastly, Paul concludes with asking the Colossians to, “remember my chains.” Think of me. Pray for me. Be faithful. Remember my suffering for Christ. Remember me and remember why I’m here. We should all remember those who suffer and are persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ as well. Amen.
Everyday Encounters With the Creator 