The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 237

know of him is from the notice hero. Ile commended himself to the apostle, as interested in the health of the Golossiau community. And he comes in for his share of commendation in the language which follows. The thrte commended. ".'iVho are of the circumcision: these ouly are my fellow-workeu unto the kingdom of God, men tbo.t have been a comfort unto me." There would be unbelieving Jews at Rome who would not be sorry for his chains. But there were others (apparently) who had advanced from Judaism to Christianity. It might have been expected, on common Christian grounds, that these would have shown sympathy with him. It, is acrainst them (by implication) that be makes complaint. He does not deny altogethe~ that they were helpers, but they were not his fellow-helpers; they were not his fellow-helpers toward the kingdom of God in the wide sense in which he understood it. They stood aloof from him because of his estimate of the Law. All the more honour, then, to the three in Rome who, free from l)rejudice, had stood by him, and been a comfort to him when be needed it. 2. From three Gentile Christians. (1) Epaphras. "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you." This Epaphras, who (probably after he had come under the influence of Paul at the Asiatic centre, Eµhesus) founded the Colossi an Church, was himself a Colossian. He was formerly styled" fellow-servant;" here, without relation to others, be is styled" a servant of Christ Jesus." It would be absurd to translate it "bond-servant," though it holds that Christ is absolute Disposer of his servants. Epaphras was a. servant in an official sense, at the call of Christ for special service in the Churches. As their minister, he is oaturally the first of the Gentile three who sent their salutations to the Colossian Church. The characte,· in which he appea1·s here is that of a minister absent for a time from his flock. (a) His prayerfulness. "Always striviog for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." A minister is sometimes necessitated, by the state of bis health, to be absent from the sphere of his work proper. In these circumstances bis great resort is prayer. Paul bad difficulty in telling bow greatly he strove for as many as had not seen bis face in the flesh. Here be tells how Epaphras was always striving for the Colossians in his prayers. How much they must have been in bis thoughts, that they came so much into his pr~yers, and, when they did come, occasioneJ. so much wrestling I It was a comprehensive object for which be wrestled. It was that they might staod perfect and fully assured in every separate will of God. If we think of a single division of time or single set of circumstances, the prime necessity is to know the will of God regarding it. If we think of our relation to that will, it implies three things. We must not only know, but must stand witbou_t wavering in tl::e will of God. Then we must stand, not in part, but in the whole of the will of God, relative to time and circumstances. LasLly, we must not only stand in the whole of the will, bu.t have the full assurance that we are standing. This last is the climax of our relation to it. Beyond all k.nowlc~ge and rightness of disposition, it is to be desired, for our own comfort, that, before and in the doing of the Divine will, we have an unwaver- ing persuasion that it is really ihe Di vine will, and no ignis fu.tuus of our own imagina- tion, that we are following. This, iodeed, is containeJ iu promise: "And thine ears shall bear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye tum to the right band, and when ye tum to the left." (b) His labour. "Fur I bear him wit- ness, that be bath much labour for you, and for them in Laodicca, and for them in Hierapolis." There is a very beautiful associatiou with the name Mizpah: "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent 0110 from another." 'l'be Lord's servant, Paui, was witness between Epaphras and the Colossians, and he vouches for their minister's labour in his absence. It is a word which approaches in meanmg to "anguish." It comprehended .much more than his prnyers. He was often engaged, by himself and in consultation with Paul, on the Colossian problem. Ho was ofteu seeu (when not sharing the apostle's confinement) about the city after business affecting the Colossian Church. Nor was his burdensome labour confined to the ono Churcb. It extended to .the Church of Laodicca, and to the Church of Hierapolis. 'l'hese were Churches in the neighbourhood. The three towns were situated in the valley of the Lycus. ColGssm was the least important of the three, but it was there, probably, that by means of Epaphra.s the gospel had been first received, and from which, by his means also, ·the gospel had been exten<led to Lao~icea and to Hierapolis. I~ we unu.er:;tand his haviug had an equal interest in the formation of the three Churches, 1t was ouly natural 234 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE COLOSSIANS. [err. 1v. 1-18.