Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 44

Paul's Final Greetings to the Colossian Believers Part 2

Colossians 4:10-11 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. KJV

Paul now begins to send greetings to these brothers and sisters in Christ in the city of Colosse from individual Christians who were physically present with and serving with the Apostle Paul at the time of him writing this letter to them and first he declares these brethren, "Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)" (Colossians 4:10) (KJV). Aristarchus (whose name means 'best ruling') was also a 'fellowprisoner', that is, a co-captive with the Apostle Paul in Rome surely for propagating, promoting, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ just as Paul was doing. Aristarchus had accompanied Paul into Asia as we find documented for us by Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts and he was no stranger to persecution for the sake of declaring the Gospel of Grace, for he was one of the brothers in Ephesus who were assaulted during an uprising or riot against the Apostle Paul and all who were with him preaching that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ was the One/Only and True God who had proven His Deity by His Resurrection form the dead.

So, this truth disturbed a certain man named Demetrius (a silversmith) and as we see from the account given to us by Dr. Luke, Aristarchus was one of the casualties of their hateful venom, "But as time went on, there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way [of the Lord]. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [the goddess] Artemis [Diana], brought no small income to his craftsmen. These he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, Men, you are acquainted with the facts {and} understand that from this business we derive our wealth {and} livelihood. Now you notice and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost all over [the province of] Asia this Paul has persuaded {and} induced people to believe his teaching and has alienated a considerable company of them, saying that gods that are made with human hands are not really gods at all. Now there is danger not merely that this trade of ours may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may come into disrepute {and} count for nothing, and that her glorious magnificence may be degraded and fall into contempt--she whom all [the province of] Asia and the wide world worship. As they listened to this, they were filled with rage and they continued to shout, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Then the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed together into the amphitheater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were fellow travelers with Paul." (Acts 19:23-29) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, we see form his history with Paul, it is no surprise that he is currently (at the time of the penning of this letter) imprisoned with Paul in Rome. Also, Paul declares greetings from a brother 'in Christ' named Marcus who we have heard little to nothing about any work he had done at the time, but Paul here declares him to be a 'fellowlaborer' in the Lord Jesus Christ (we know now that he is the author of the Gospel of Mark). Paul also reveals that this (Marcus) is the nephew of one of Paul's first missionary close co-workers or co-laborers for Christ Barnabas until their dispute, disagreement, and ultimate division over John Mark as again documented for us by Dr. Luke, "And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit {and} help {and} minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along. Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative]. But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit {and} deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord. And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing {and} strengthening the Churches." (Acts 15:36-41) (Amplified Bible). Paul sends them greetings from another of his 'fellow-workers' for Christ named 'Justus' which was a common surname among the Jews, who also happened to be a Jew just as the Apostle Paul was as he declares with these words, "And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." (Colossians 4:11) (KJV).

All three of these men Paul list here in his final greetings to the believers in Colosse were Jews or as he declares 'of the circumcision' and Paul made it often to make a point in his closing farewells to spell out where the men and women who were supporting him and working with him for Jesus Christ were from or their nationality, being Jewish or Gentile. Paul declares here also to these believers in Colosse that these men have been 'a comfort' to him and this little English phrase 'a comfort' is translated by one Greek word paregoria used this one time only in the New Testament meaning to harangue an assembly, that is, address forcefully with strong emotion); an address alongside, that is, (specifically) consolation: - comfort. It is often (in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ) that those members of his Mystical Body that seem to be of little importance or relevance are the ones that are praying for, consoling, caring for, and comforting the man or woman of God who is visible and gets all of the visible attention or publicity as we find Paul also celebrating with joy over the comfort he felt from the Corinthian Church even after he had written them a scathing letter of reprimand with these words, "But God, Who comforts {and} encourages {and} refreshes {and} cheers the depressed {and} the sinking, comforted {and} encouraged {and} refreshed {and} cheered us by the arrival of Titus. [Yes] and not only by his coming but also by [his account of] the comfort with which he was encouraged {and} refreshed {and} cheered as to you, while he told us of your yearning affection, of how sorry you were [for me] and how eagerly you took my part, so that I rejoiced still more. For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it; for I see that that letter did pain you, though only for a little while; Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us {or} harm for what we did." (2 Corinthians 7:6-9) (Amplified Bible).

"What a noble group had gathered round the Apostle in his enforced residence in Rome! That hired room of his must have been filled time after time with most interesting groups; and each friend was dear to the lion-heart, and intent on some act of loving devotion. Aristarchus had been with him in the Ephesian riot; Mark was endeavoring to make good his former lapse of courage." F. B. Meyer

"Let us never forget that in the early days of the birth of Christianity that the Apostle Paul was not the only Jew converted to Christ out of Judaism, but we are reminded by him here of these three men Aristarchus, Marcus, and Justus who also came to know Christ at the same time being vehemently, viciously, and violently persecuted by not only Gentiles, but more hurtfully for them their fellow Jews who were still spiritually blind of seeing Jesus Christ as their Messiah." Clifford D, Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…