Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Colossians 1:7

"even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf," — Colossians 1:7 (ASV)

A third item in Paul’s expression of thankfulness concerns the work of Epaphras, through whom the Colossians had been instructed in the Gospel. What we know about this man is found only in this passage (vv.4, 7, 9), in 4:12–13, and in Phm 23. He was a native of Colosse and had ministered not only in that city but also in Laodicea and Hierapolis. In Philemon he is described by Paul as his “fellow-prisoner in the cause of Christ Jesus.” We learn three things about Epaphras in vv.7–8. (1) He was Paul’s “dear fellow servant.” He was, like Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, and Paul looked on him as a valued comrade in the work of the Lord. (2) He was “a faithful minister of Christ on our [Paul’s] behalf.” Epaphras appears to have preached in Paul’s stead in establishing the work at Colosse. Perhaps Epaphras was himself a convert of Paul during the Ephesian ministry, and Paul had delegated him to take the Gospel to the Colossians. Yet as a “minister of Christ,” Epaphras had acted not under the authority of Paul but under that of Paul’s Lord. The Greek word “minister” (GK 1356) here simply means “one who serves.” (3) As a messenger from Colosse, Epaphras had communicated to Paul about the Colossians’ love; the reference may be to the love they had for all the people of God (cf. v.4) or to the love they had for Paul. “In the Spirit” means that it was the Spirit of God who had awakened this love in Paul’s readers. There were other matters not so favorable that Epaphras may have told Paul about the Colossians, but for the moment the apostle is concerned only with these positive features.