Christ, My Master: Colossians 4
Part 3 Pattern – Colossians 4:7-17
Paul’s Fellowservants of Christ, A Pattern of Service
Tychicus, a Jewish name which means fateful. He stayed with Paul while he was in prison and then along with Onesimus delivered the letters that Paul had written. He was one who say his fate, his destiny as a faithful servant both to Paul and to the Lord.
Onesimus, was the young Greek slave who had fled from Colossae as a runaway slave and then found Paul and Paul sent him back with ta plea to Philemon, to put the offenses of Onesimus on Paul’s own account. Onesimus means profitable servant and that was how Paul reintroduces him to his master, in the hopes that he would free him. There is some evidence that Philemon did just as Paul requested and that Onesimus became a pastor of the church as Ephusus, year later. From a servant to a man to a servant for the Lord.
Aristarchus, also a Jewish name. He was from Thessalonica and his name meant “the best ruler.” He had willingly risked his life in Ephesian riot (Acts 19:28-41). Later he sailed with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2), where he went through the storm and shipwreck, along with Paul and Luke (Acts 27) Now he is also a prisoner with Paul, perhaps voluntarily shared a cell with the apostle to be a companion, and a friend. Keeping him company, comforting him during the dark days just like friends should.
There is Marcus (aka. John Mark), the nephew of Barnabus, who wrote the Gospel of Mark. His name means “a defense.” On the first missionary trip he had deserted Paul and Barnabus, Acts 15:36-39, but now thanks to Barnabus’ faith in forgiveness, here he is serving again with Paul and commended by him. In his last letter Paul wrote to Timothy asking for him to come and to bring Mark in 2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
John Mark’s life shows us that God never gives up on us, therefore we should never give up on one another.
There is a man name Jesus, his Jewish name but called Justus, a Roman name which means “just.” It was common for the Jews to have two name both Jewish and Latin, like Timothy/ Timotheus, John Mark or Jesus Justus, but what a name to bear for a belever and a servant of the Lord, Jesus, Jehovah is salvation and Justice. To proclaim everytime one called you that God’s saves and justifies.
Then there is Epaphras, whose coming to Paul was the reason he wrote the epistle. He was a Gentile and his full name Epaphroditus name means devoted to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, when used it was understood as hearing the word “lovely.”
From a pagan devoted to a goddess, he was now a pastor to devoted to the one true God. He probably started the churches in Colossi, Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col 4:13) Paul gave him his highest honor when he calls him “A servant of Christ” He was a serving the Lord by serving the Lord’s people, “Always laboring for you in prayer.” And with “great zeal for you.”
Then of course there is always faithful, Luke, the Gentile, “beloved physician.” Luke’ s name means "light-giving." And that is what he did through his recording the most words of any writer of the New Testament, the light of the Lord’s Gospel and then the light of the Lord’s Churches.
There is also Demas which is short for Demetrius. He is a Gentile and his name means “governor of the people" Demas is famous as the anti-Luke, he later deserts the apostle when he was a prisoner at Rome the second time and returns to Thessalonica. 2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
Finally, Paul mentions the names of people in the churches he is writing to, Nymphas, His name means “bridegroom. He appears to be a man wealthy enough to have a large enough house to host the church.
The last name is Archippus, another Gentile whose his name means "master of the horse.” He is the pastor of the church of Colossi and as such Paul has special words for him. He tells him to “take heed to your ministry” literally it means“keep an eye on” your ministry. “Fulfill your calling.” Literally it says,"that thou keep on filling it full." Archippus shows us that we all have a calling as Servants of God. Keep an eye on our ministries, guard them as the thing most precious and valuable ever given to you. We must “keep on filling it full.” It is the calling of a lifetime and our life should be devoted to fulfilling our calling as Servants of Christ.
