Colossians 1:7,8

7. even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8. who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Translation and Paraphrase

7. (All these things about the hope in the gospel, and the way it is increasing, you know. They are realities to you,) just as you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-slave (of Christ), who is a faithful servant (or minister) of Christ in your behalf.
8. (Epaphras is the one) who also made known to us your love in the Spirit (the love produced by the Spirit within you).

Notes

1.

The servants, or ministers, of God from whom we learned the truth of God are worthy of honor. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7). Therefore Paul reminds the Colossians that Epaphras had taught them of the grace of God in truth.

2.

Epaphras is referred to in Colossians 1:7-8; Colossians 4:12-13; and Philemon 1:23. From these verses we learn the following about him:

(1)

He first had taught the Colossians of the grace of God.

(2)

He was a faithful minister.

(3)

He was one of Colossians.

(4)

Paul loved him.

(5)

He was a servant (bondservant) of Christ Jesus.

(6)

He prayed much for the Colossians.

(7)

He labored much for them.

(8)

He also labored for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

(9)

He told Paul about the love of the Colossians, and presumably other things about them also.

(10) He was a fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus with Paul in Rome. We do not know any details about this imprisonment.

3.

The ancient manuscripts are divided on whether Colossians 1:7 says on our behalf, or on your behalf. With some hesitation we choose the reading on your behalf. Besides the fact that this is the reading given in many old Greek manuscripts, it is also given in the Latin New Testament. But perhaps most convincing to us is the fact that it seems to make better sense than the reading on our behalf. Epaphras was not a minister on behalf of Paul, but he was definitely a minister on behalf of the Colossians.

4.

Epaphras was Paul's fellow-servant. This title means fellow-slave (Gr. sundoulos).

5.

Epaphras was a faithful minister. Minister here is a translation of the Greek diakonos (from which we derive deacon), which means servant, attendant, waiter, minister, etc. The word should probably not here be taken in a professional sense. Epaphras was a servant (or minister) in the way every Christian should be a minister. He may have been a business man of some type. His job was preaching Christ; he may have made his living at some trade.

6.

Epaphras had told Paul of the Colossians-' love in the Spirit. Probably we ought not to attempt to dissect and examine this expression love in the Spirit. It is better to exemplify it in our lives than to examine it minutely. Doubtless it refers to the love which they had in their hearts and displayed in their lives because the Holy Spirit was in them, and they were in the Spirit, yielded to his control, assistance, and guidance. The first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. Galatians 5:22.

Study and Review

18.

From whom had the Colossians learned the gospel? (Colossians 1:7)

19.

What does the word minister in Colossians 1:7 mean?

20.

What particular thing about the Colossians had been declared to Paul? (Colossians 1:8)