John Calvin Commentary Colossians 4:12

"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." — Colossians 4:12 (ASV)

Always striving. Here we have an example of a good pastor, whom distance of place cannot induce to forget the Church, nor prevent him from carrying his pastoral care for it with him beyond the sea. We must notice, also, the strength of entreaty that is expressed in the word striving. For although the Apostle intended here to express intensity of affection, he at the same time admonishes the Colossians not to consider their pastor's prayers useless, but, on the contrary, to believe that they would afford them no small assistance. Lastly, let us infer from Paul’s words that the perfection of Christians is this: they stand complete in the will of God, so that they do not base their plan of life on anything else.