Epaphras

Epaphras is a Colossian co-laborer with Paul. Three notices spread across two letters present him as the messenger from whom the Colossians first received the gospel, a praying servant of Christ on their behalf, and a fellow-prisoner of the apostle who sends his own greetings.

The Teacher of the Colossians

Paul names Epaphras as the one through whom the Colossian believers came to know the gospel: "even as you⁺ learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your⁺ behalf," (Col 1:7). Three terms stack to describe him — beloved fellow slave, faithful servant of Christ, and one whose service is directed toward the hearers themselves.

A Local-Born Servant Praying for the Colossians

In the closing greetings, Epaphras's local origin and his unceasing prayer-labor for the same congregation come into view: "Epaphras, who is one of you⁺, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you⁺, always striving for you⁺ in his prayers, that you⁺ may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God" (Col 4:12). His standing is fixed to Christ Jesus, and the stated aim of his striving prayer is that the hearers stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

A Fellow-Prisoner with Paul

Writing to Philemon, Paul includes Epaphras among those sending personal greetings, this time under a captivity-title: "Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you;" (Phm 1:23). The location of that fellow-prisonership is the same — "in Christ Jesus" — under which his service in the other notices is set.