Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. CHRIST. So Delta G f g. But 'Aleph (') A B C, Vulgate, add 'Jesus.' LABOURING FERVENTLY, [ agoonizomenos (G75)] - 'striving earnestly' (as in Colossians 1:29; Colossians 2:1), as in the agony of a contest. IN [HIS: tais (G3588 )] PRAYERS ... COMPLETE. 'Aleph (') A B C Delta G, read 'fully assured' [ pepleeroforeemenoi...

12_Always striving. _Here we have an example of a good pastor, whom distance of place cannot induce to forget the Church, so as to prevent him from taking the care of 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 had it in view here to express intensity of affection, he at the same time admonishes the Colossians not to look upon the prayers of their pastor as useless, but, on the contrary, to reckon that they would afford them no small assistance. Lastly, let us infer from Paul’s words, that the _perfection _of Christians is, when they _stand complete in the will of God_, that they may not suspend their scheme of life upon anything else....

10-18 Paul had differed with Barnabas, on the account of this Mark, yet he is not only reconciled, but recommends him to the churches; an example of a truly Christian and forgiving spirit. If men have been guilty of a fault, it must not always be remembered against them. We must forget as well as forgive. The apostle had comfort in the communion of saints and ministers. One is his fellow-servant, another his fellow-prisoner, and all his fellow-workers, working out their own salvation, and endeavouring to promote the salvation of others. The effectual, fervent prayer is the prevailing prayer, and availeth much. The smiles, flatteries, or frowns of the world, the spirit of error, or the working of self-love, leads many to a way of preaching and living which comes far short of fulfilling their ministry. But those who preach the same doctrine as Paul, and follow his example, may expect the D...

Verse 12. _EPAPHRAS, WHO IS_ ONE _OF YOU_] A native of some part of Phrygia, and probably of Colosse itself. _A SERVANT OF CHRIST_] A minister of the Gospel. _LABOURING FERVENTLY FOR YOU_] αγωνιζομενος. _Agonizing_; very properly expressed by our translators, _labouring fervently_. _THAT YE MAY STAND PERFECT AND COMPLETE_] ινα στητε τελειοι και πεπληρμενοι. That ye may stand firm, perfectly instructed, and fully persuaded of the truth of those doctrines which have been taught you as the revealed will of God: this I believe to be the meaning of the apostle. Instead of πεπληρωμενοι, _complete_ or _filled up_, almost all the MSS. of the Alexandrian rescension, which are considered the most authentic and correct, have πεπληροφορημενοι, _that ye may be fully_ _persuaded_. The word πληροφορια signifies such a complete

EPAPHRAS - Notes, Colossians 1:7. ALWAYS LABORING FERVENTLY FOR YOU IN PRAYERS - Margin, “or striving.” Greek: “agonizing.” The word denotes the intense desire which he had for their salvation; his fervent, earnest pleading for their welfare. THAT YE MAY STAND PERFECT AND COMPLETE - Margin, as in Greek, filled. The desire was, that they might maintain their Christian principles unadulterated by the mixture of philosophy and error, and completely perform the will of God in every respect. This is the expression of a pious wish in regard to them, without any affirmation that any had been absolutely perfect, or that they would be perfect in this world. It is, however, a command of God that we should be perfect (see...

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 4:1 (See Colossians 3:1.) COLOSSIANS 4:2 SECTION IX. PRAYER AND SOCIAL CONVERSE. There are added some brief exhortations of a more general tenor, the contents of which are summed up in the heading given to this section. COLOSSIANS 4:2 CONTINUE STEADFAST IN PRAYER, BEING WATCHFUL (or, _wakeful_) THEREIN, WITH THANKSGIVING. "Steadfast

EPAPHRAS, WHO IS ONE OF YOU,.... A native of Colosse, and one of their faithful ministers; see 1 Thessalonians 1:7. A SERVANT OF CHRIST; not merely in the same sense as every believer is, but as he was a preacher of the Gospel, in which he faithfully served his Lord and master, Christ: SALUTETH YOU; sends his Christian respects to you, for whom he bore a sincere love and hearty affection, as appears by what follows: ALWAYS LABOURING FERVENTLY FOR YOU IN PRAYERS; in all his prayers, which were many and frequent, he never forgot his dear flock at Colosse, of which he was pastor, but strove with God for them, even to an agony, as the word signifies; he wrestled with the Lord as Jacob did, nor, as he, would he let him go without a blessing for this church; he was incessant, importunate, and fervent in prayer for them: and wh

EPAPHRAS A touching illustration of priestly service, (_ See Scofield) - (1 Peter 2:9), _ as distinguished from ministry of gift. Shut up in prison, no longer able to preach, Epaphras was still, equally with all believers, a priest. No prison could keep him from the throne of grace, so he gave himself wholly to the priestly work of intercession. PERFECT (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

COLOSSIANS 4:12 Cristou/ @VIhsou/# {C} Ordinarily one might regard this to be a growing text, but the Committee was not impressed by the weight of the witnesses that support Cristou/ standing alone. The least unsatisfactory resolution, therefore, seemed to call for VIhsou/ to be retained, yet enclosed within square brackets....

CHAPTER 4 __ 1. Prayer and ministry (Colossians 4:2) 2. Walking in wisdom (Colossians 4:5) 3. The fellowship of the saints in their service (Colossians 4:7) 4. The conclusion (Colossians 4:18) Colossians 4:2 The first verse of this chapter belongs to the preceding one. Prayer is the most needed thing for those who are risen with Christ and know that they are complete in Him. Without continued prayer the full realization of the great truths unfolded in this Epistle is impossible. Communi