“As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;”
My Notes
What Does Colossians 1:7 Mean?
Paul identifies Epaphras as the person from whom the Colossians learned the gospel — "our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ." Epaphras isn't an apostle; he's a local church planter who brought the gospel to Colossae. Paul validates his ministry by calling him "dear" (agapetos — beloved), "fellowservant" (sundoulos — co-slave), and "faithful" (pistos — reliable, trustworthy).
The phrase "as ye also learned of Epaphras" means the Colossians' entire Christian experience traces back to Epaphras's teaching. They didn't hear the gospel from Paul directly; they heard it from Epaphras. Paul, who never visited Colossae (2:1), writes to affirm and protect the gospel that Epaphras delivered.
The three descriptors — beloved, fellow-servant, faithful minister — constitute an apostolic endorsement of a non-apostolic minister. Paul places Epaphras on the same level as himself ("fellowservant" — we serve the same master) while honoring him specifically ("dear" — personally loved) and praising his character ("faithful" — trustworthy in his ministry).
Reflection Questions
- 1.Who is the 'Epaphras' in your faith story — the faithful person who first brought you the gospel?
- 2.Why is 'faithful' the most important descriptor for a minister, above talented or impressive?
- 3.How does Paul validating Epaphras's teaching (without visiting Colossae himself) model how to support local leaders?
- 4.What might you be faithfully planting that could become something significant you'll never see?
Devotional
Epaphras isn't famous. He isn't an apostle. He doesn't have a letter named after him. But he's the reason the Colossian church exists. The gospel came to Colossae through this one faithful man, and Paul writes an entire letter to protect what Epaphras planted.
The three words Paul uses — beloved, fellowservant, faithful — are the highest possible endorsement for a non-apostolic minister. Beloved: Paul personally loves him. Fellowservant: they're equals in service, co-slaves of the same master. Faithful: the word that matters most in ministry isn't talented, gifted, or impressive. It's faithful. Epaphras shows up. Epaphras delivers. Epaphras can be trusted.
The Colossians learned the gospel from Epaphras — not from Paul, not from Peter, not from any of the famous apostles. Their entire faith traces back to a man whose name you might not recognize. And Paul validates that chain completely: what you learned from Epaphras is the real thing. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
This should encourage every faithful, unglamorous minister whose work will never make a headline. Epaphras planted a church that received an apostolic letter. His faithfulness produced a congregation significant enough to warrant Paul's most theological writing on the supremacy of Christ. The faithful local minister, doing the unglamorous work of teaching and serving, can produce something that echoes through the ages.
You don't have to be an apostle to plant something apostle-worthy. You have to be faithful.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
As ye also learned of Epaphras,.... To know the grace of God, believe the truth of the Gospel, and to own and profess it…
As ye also learned of Epaphras - Epaphras was then with Paul. Phm 1:23. He had probably been sent to him by the church…
As ye also learned of Epaphras - who is for you - Who this Epaphras was we cannot tell; only it is likely that he was a…
Here he proceeds to the body of the epistle, and begins with thanksgiving to God for what he had heard concerning them,…
as ye also learned In the word "as" he refers to the "truth" just spoken of (Lightfoot). So, and not otherwise, had…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture