It is interesting how often Paul would name his fellow workers in the gospel, heaping praise upon them and enjoining his readers to care for them and accept their help on Paul’s behalf. An example of this is found in Colossians 4:7-14, and giving short biographies of these men can be quite interesting and enlightening to us.
Tychicus: A frequent companion of the Apostle, Tychicus is mentioned 5 times in the New Testament. He was a Christian from Asia, and described by Paul as “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21). Paul sent him to Colosse with Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9). And also Ephesus on two occasions, once during his first imprisonment, and then a second time near the end of his life, freeing Timothy to go to Rome (cf. 2 Timothy 4:9,12). We can see from these mentions just how faithful and helpful this Christian brother was to the great apostle.
Onesimus: As noted above, and Paul’s letter to Philemon, this man accompanied Tychicus to Colosse. Philemon was a member of the church in Colosse, and hosted the church in his home. He was a man of some means, and Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who had deserted him. After deserting Philemon, Onesimus was converted by the apostle and became one of his fellow workers. The purpose of the personal letter was to gain permission from Philemon for Onesimus to continue his companionship with Paul. Paul referred to Onesimus as “a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you [Philemon] both in the flesh and in the Lord” (16).
Aristarchus: He is referred to by Paul in Colossians 4 as “my fellow prisoner” (10). He became associated with Paul while the apostle was in Ephesus, and was not unfamiliar with the consequences of serving the Lord, being seized during the disturbance in Ephesus (cf. Acts 19:29). He was a Macedonian. After the uproar in Ephesus had come to and end, we are told in Acts 20 that Aristarchus traveled to Troas ahead of Paul, and when the apostle came, then traveled with him to Rome, where he stayed with Paul during his imprisonment.
Mark: The young man John Mark (cf. Acts 12:12) had a bit of a rocky start in his relationship with Paul. With his kinsman Barnabas, he journeyed for a time with Paul, but eventually left and returned back home (cf. Acts 13:13). On Paul’s second missionary journey, when Barnabas insisted on Mark’s inclusion, Paul’s refusal to bring Mark along caused a rift between the two men. (cf. Acts 15: 36-40).
However, by the time of this writing in Colossians, the rift had healed, and Mark was a treasured and trusted companion of Paul. He is referred to by Paul in his later letters as a “comfort” (Colossians 4:11) a “fellow laborer” (Philemon 24), and “useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). He is the writer of the gospel of Mark.
Justus: Justus, along with Aristarchus and Mark were the only Jews who were ministering with Paul at the time of his writing. One can imagine the special affinity these Jewish men had for one another as they proclaimed the gospel to others. They are described as comforts to Paul. Paul constantly received criticism in his life as he proclaimed the gospel to the Gentiles. No doubt having these men helping in this effort was gratifying to the apostle. Justus is described in this text as “Jesus who is called Justus.” Two other men were also known by this name in the New Testament (cf. Acts 1:23; 18:7).
Epaphras: Epaphras was “one of” the Colossians. He is described as a bondservant of Christ, (as Paul sometimes described himself), and a man deeply devoted in labors and prayers to the church there. It is not surprising that his commendation is the longest of the text (cf. 12-13). In addition to Colossae, Epaphras was influential and loved in Laodicea and Hierapolis, both communities less than a day’s walk from Colossae. Known well by them, Paul had early in the epistle referred to him as “our dear fellow servant” and “a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:7-8).
Luke: Luke was the writer of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. The first time he is mentioned to be with Paul is in Troas in Acts 16:10. There the pronoun “we” is used, including the writer in the company. In our text he is referred by Paul as “the beloved physician” (4:14), and no doubt assisted Paul in infirmities and injuries he sustained in his ministry. For a while, he was the only one who was with Paul during his second imprisonment (cf. 2 Timothy 4:11).
Demas: Unlike Mark, Demas started off faithful to Paul and his ministry, but near the end of Paul’s life he refers to the man with sorrow, “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). As Paul wrote by inspiration, this can be safely considered an allusion to the possibility of leaving the faith of God (cf. 2 Peter 2:20).
These men were traveling with Paul through dangers, trials, and discomfort. The text serves as a real lesson to us: To greet and treasure those who work in the gospel for our sakes; and to express our praise to the faithful!
