Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 45

Paul's Final Greetings to the Colossian Believers Part 3

Colossians 4:12-13 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. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. KJV

Paul continues to list the individuals present with him in Rome in his farewell greeting to these believers in Colosse and up next is a man who perhaps was the most dearly beloved to him among those with him and that being Epaphras as he declares with these words, "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." (Colossians 4:12) (KJV). It was this man that Paul met on one of his missionary journeys that engendered or generated his great care, carefulness, and concern about these believers in the Church @ Colosse even though he had never met them face to face, but because Epaphras was himself from that part of the world and Paul had grown so fond of him and admired his steadfastness for Christ Jesus our Lord that he spoke to the believers in Colosse through this letter as if he had known them personally for many years. Paul declared to them that their fellow native son had such fervent love for them during his absence away from them that it led him to 'labouring fervently' for them in prayer and this English phrase is translated by one Greek word agonizomai which is where we get our English word agony & agonize from it means to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive. In other words, Epaphras entered into warfare on behalf of his fellow countrymen and women and brothers and sisters in Christ, for prayer is always and at all times warfare with the devil and his principalities and powers as we remember Paul declared to the Ephesian believers with these words, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere." (Ephesians 6:12) (Amplified Bible). Epaphras' prayers for them were that they would 'stand' 'perfect' and 'complete' in all the will of God. The first English word 'stand' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word histemi meaning figuratively to continue or hold up. The second English word 'perfect' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word teleios meaning the conclusion of an act or state of condition, that is, complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.). The third English word 'complete' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word pleroo meaning (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue (spread or diffuse through), influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), accomplish, be complete, fill up, fulfil, or supply.

Therefore, putting them all together we find that Epaphras prayed for his fellow Colossians to continue on 'in Christ' striving for spiritual maturity and completeness as the prize and ultimate goal in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ which none of them or us will ever attain down here on the earth, but it is always to be the believers goal and aim as we remember also the Apostle Paul declaring to the Philippian believers with these words speaking of himself, "Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord {and} of progressively becoming more deeply {and} intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found {and} known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) {and} make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me {and} made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured {and} made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So, let those [of us] who are spiritually mature {and} full-grown have this mind {and} hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have already attained {and} walk {and} order our lives by that." (Philippians 3:8-16) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Paul wanted the members of the Church @ Colosse to know the sincerity and the seriousness of their brother Epaphras concerning them, so he writes to them these words speaking on his behalf, "For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis." (Colossians 4:13) (KJV). The English phrase 'I bear him record' is translated by one Greek word martureo meaning to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - charge, give [evidence], bear record, have good honest report, be well reported of. In other words, Paul is here vouching for Epaphras and his earnest desire for his brethren and sisteren in Colosse and his strong feelings for them always in a favorable sense, with no negativity at all. This was Epaphras desire towards and for those fellow believers in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Note: "Churches probably founded by Epaphras, as the Church in Colosse was. Laodicea, called from Laodice, queen of Antiochus II, on the river Lycus, was, according to the subscription to First Timothy, 'the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana' (1Timothy 6:21). All the three cities were destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 62 [Tacitus, Annals, 14.27]. Hierapolis was six Roman miles north of Laodicea." (JFB Commentary). 

"It was the desire of the Apostle Paul and of Brother Epaphras that these believers be fully and completely persuaded, that is, adopting the one and only position that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and at the same time God the Son and that there is no forgiveness of man's sin outside of Him and His Blood shed on the Cross of Calvary, which means there is no heaven for anyone who does not believe in Him alone for their salvation as spoken by the Apostle Peter when he declared the means by which the lame man at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful was healed and made whole (see the entire account in Acts Chapter 3), 'Let it be known {and} understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power {and} authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him {and} by means of Him this man is standing here before you well {and} sound in body. This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised {and} rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. And there is salvation in {and} through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by {and} in which we must be saved.' (Acts 4:10-12) (Amplified Bible)." 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…