12 - A Roll Call Of Paul's Friends And The Message They Left Behind 2011

Last time we looked at the habits of a successful Christian. Paul discussed the habit of prayer, the habit of behaving wisely toward the lost, the habit of using time wisely, and the habit of wise speech.

The final aspect of wise speech is:

Our speech should be knowledgeable. Paul says, “…that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

We must not be like the man who, when he was asked what he believed, replied, “I believe what the church believes.” When asked, “And what does the church believe? He replied, The church believes what I believe.” Then when asked, “Then what do you both believe?” he declared, “Why we both believe the same!”

No, we should know how to answer every man. This requires knowing your Bible and knowing it well. It also requires being well-taught.

Next, Paul begins a roll call of his companions and colleagues in the ministry. The names ring out—Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Marcus, Archippus, and so on.

They stood for the truth, for the apostolic faith. These men were not perfect. Indeed, one of them became a noted backslider and another needed a word of rebuke.

But Paul lines them up, representatives of those that stood with the Truth against the Lie of Gnosticism. They represent orthodox, fundamental, evangelical mainstream, historic Christianity. “The faith once delivered to the saints” as Jude said (Jude 3). Paul lines up these men in protest against those people at Colossae who had broken from the ranks to chase after Gnostic fantasies.

The Holy Spirit saw to it that behind the name of each one, an admirable character trait can be found. The names Paul lists provide a beautiful, powerful collection of traits the Christian would look for in a friend, and would seek to develop himself.

First, we have:

Tychicus—the faithful man (4:7-8)

“Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts…”

Tychicus first appears toward the end of the book of Acts as one of Paul’s companions on his third missionary journey. He was likely saved in Ephesus under Paul’s ministry. Due to a riot, Paul had been forced to leave Ephesus in a hurry.

Paul decided to go to Jerusalem from there and was accompanied on his trip by a group of remarkable friends, mostly delegates from various Gentile churches he had founded. These men were bearing financial aid to the impoverished Jerusalem church. Seven of them are named, and Tychicus was one of them.

Paul gives us a twofold glimpse of this man. He gives us a look at his character. He was a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. Paul valued this man’s friendship.

He called him one of the most endearing things possible in the New Testament—beloved brother. Tychicus had done one of the very things that Jesus commended—he visited Paul in prison. He stood by Paul in the face of danger and death.

And Paul also valued this man’s fellowship. He was a “fellow servant” in the Lord—literally, a fellow slave, sold out to Christ Jesus. And he was a “faithful minister.” Paul knew he could rely on him to keep his hand to the plow and finish his task to the end.

Next we have:

Onesimus—the fugitive man (4:9)

“…with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.”

Onesimus was a runaway slave. But even more than that, he had fled the house of a Christian owner—Philemon, whose letter from Paul we have in the Bible. He had apparently stolen enough valuables to carry him financially to the city of Rome where he hoped to get “lost in the crowd.”

But the Holy Spirit had other plans. He “just happened” to somehow encounter the imprisoned Paul. Ever on the hunt for the souls of men, the great Apostle led him to Christ.

For some time afterward, Onesimus stayed at Paul’s side. No doubt, Paul took him under his wing and taught him the ways of the Master, Jesus Christ. But the day came when Paul looked Onesimus in the eye and told him something very hard—you must go back and make things right. Conversion does not cancel moral, financial, and social debts.

Paul gave him a letter to take with him—a masterpiece of persuasion and humble entreaty. In the letter, Paul tells Philemon that Onesimus is “one of you.”

He may have been unfaithful in the past, says Paul, but he is now a faithful brother. The fact that Onesimus did not run away again on the long road back to Colossae where he was from testifies to his new trustworthiness.

Next, Paul mentions:

Aristarchus—the fearless man (4:10a)

“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you,”

Aristarchus also became a companion of Paul on his third missionary journey. He accompanied him to Ephesus. He was captured and almost killed by the mob in the riot raised by Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:29).

He also accompanied Paul to Greece and Asia Minor (Acts 20:4). He then accompanied Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2), sharing in the dangers of the voyage and in the shipwreck.

We don’t know when, but Aristarchus paid for his allegiance to Paul by being made a prisoner. Tradition tells us he was finally martyred by Nero. So Aristarchus’s chief traits were loyalty and fearlessness—even to the point of death. Aristarchus was a true “foxhole” friend.

Next, we hear of:

Mark—the forgiven man (4:10b)

“…with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),”

This Mark is the same Mark whose gospel graces the pages of the New Testament. Years earlier, John Mark had greatly disappointed Paul to the point that Paul refused to any longer travel with him. There was a harsh parting of ways between the two men.

It might be that Paul one day read Mark’s gospel that was possibly already in circulation and heartily commended it. Whatever the catalyst, the men were reconciled (though Paul had long before forgiven him). Their first meeting after so many years must have been emotional.

Now Paul trusts Mark enough to suggest that he go to Colossae on his behalf. At the time of Paul’s second and fatal Roman imprisonment, Paul had such a high estimate of Mark that he urged Timothy to “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim.4:11). What a beautiful picture of brotherly forgiveness and restoration!

Next, Paul mentions:

Justus—the friendly man (4:11)

“…and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.”