Epaphras

Jesu Juva

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints. Hebrews 6:10 (NASB)

One of my favorite features of the letters written by the apostle, Paul, is his habit of mentioning many fellow believers. Paul never tells you a lot about their stories, which really makes you want to know more.

But Paul does tell the reader enough to want to know more about Jesus. And that is the real purpose of the Gospel. After all, the story of grace is not about you and me. We are just blessed by God to be useful in sharing the Gospel with others.

Epaphras was one of the people mentioned by Paul. Epaphras was probably a Gentile. We believe that because of his name. We also know that he was from Asia Minor (Turkey) and that he either started the church in Colossae or he served the church in some capacity.

Let’s look at the very few passages where he is mentioned. You will see what I mean about wanting to know more about the Love that drew Epaphras to be wholly devoted to Jesus. Our journey always begins with the Holy Spirit drawing people in a winsome and mystifying way.

just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1: 7-8 (NASB)

What would motivate someone to follow Christ in the early Church, during such dark and dangerous times for Christians? As you explore the people, places, and events Paul mentioned, you can see how the believers’ journey started. It’s not something people would choose on their own. Who would willingly follow a religion when it meant facing danger and leaving behind their familiar lives?

Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32 (NASB)

Sometimes it’s easier for us to believe that our best hope is happiness on earth. Don’t rock the boat. Let’s get the most out of life now because there is nothing more.

But Epaphras and the Colossian believers acted in reverse. They knew what they would face if they got caught. No easy days of rest were promised to these believers. And still, they could not resist the very Spirit of God.

Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Colossians 4:6 (NASB)

In verse 8, review the last phrase, “love in the Spirit.” The Spirit is always the starting point that leads to salvation. The verse above shows how the sweet attributes of the Holy Spirit will be seen in one person after another.

Epaphras told Paul about the believer’s progress in Colossae. They all prayed for each other in the Spirit and in unity as believers. What a lovely example for the Church today!

Paul was used in such an amazing way to bring the story of Jesus to Turkey. His ministry reached Epaphras, who continued the mission when Paul went back to Rome. When you read the letters of Colossians, Ephesians and Galatians you are reading about cities in present day Turkey. Many Gentile churches were formed there.

There are still believers in Turkey today. Though the numbers are minuscule, the Church still stands. Doesn’t this produce a fire in you as a fellow believer? You live in relative safety. We do not face persecution like the believers in Turkey face. That ought to make us eager to share the Gospel in the relative safety of our world.

Epaphras wanted more of his countrymen to know the Lord that he loved. The verse below tells us that one of the attributes of Epaphras was his commitment to prayer.

Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis..  (NASB)

Epaphras was imprisoned in Rome with Paul for a time, and while historical accounts mention his martyrdom, it is not referenced in scripture. The key takeaway is that the loving grace of the Lord Jesus reaches even the least likely of us. When we surrender to the Savior, we must commit to serving Him daily.

 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, Philemon 1:23 (NASB)

If we can’t serve on a mission field or in the role of pastoral ministry, we can certainly commit to prayer for this lost and broken world. We can tell the people in our families and neighborhoods the story of Jesus.

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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