Colossians 4:7-18 If Christ is Preeminent so people are important

Its not uncommon that I mention people’s names from this pulpit.

Get a variety of responses to that.

I never want to embarrass someone.

I never want to overlook someone.

But people are important.

Not just a mass of humanity

You matter. To me. To the Lord.

More than just me and God

People are important too

Paul would agree with me.

At the end of almost every letter he mentions names. People with him. People he is writing to. He names names. He gives personal details.

Paul makes Christ Preeminent – therefore he makes people important.

Jesus summarizes the two commands of the law

Love God

Love People

As Paul closes his letter that is very much about making Christ Preeminent, he now demonstrates that people are therefore important.

I. People are important: Close friends

Christ Preeminent – Individuals are important – Especially Christian fellow workers

Note the many specific names he mentions. Paul was very much about people. Not afraid to mention names – positive and negative.

A. Tychicus – a trusted encourager Col 4:7-8

(ESV) Colossians 4 7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

1. From Asia Minor

2. Joined to take collection to Jerusalem – trusted to handle the offerings taken up for the Jerusalem church

3. Trusted to send / receive communications from churches

Also Ephesus / Philemon -- later to fill in for Titus on Crete – Fill in for Timothy at Ephesus to allow Timothy to come to Paul

4. Communicate Paul’s heart and status

5. An encourager of people’s heart

B. Onesimus – from ‘useless’ to ‘useful’ Col 4:9, 2 Tim 1:16-17

(ESV) Colossians 4 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

1. A runaway slave from Colossae

2. Name means ‘useful’ – common name for slaves

3. In letter to Philemon Paul calls him ‘his child’– in the faith

4. Here ‘ faithful and beloved brother’

5. If same Onesiphorus

(ESV) 2 Timothy 1 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—

6. Paul to Philemon ‘formerly useless’ now ‘useful’ to Paul and his Philemon

7. Sent home with Tychicus with the letters to the region even though it is with great personal risk the runaway slave returns

C. Aristarchus – A follower in spite of persecution Col 4:10a, 11

(ESV) Colossians 4 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

1. From Thessalonica

2. Would have seen the riot caused by the Jews when they took Jason and friends to authorities over Paul’s preaching

3. Became travelers with Paul

4. Seized in Ephesus – taken by angry mob – released later

5. Became a fellow prisoner in Rome

6. Tradition says he was martyred by Nero

7. A comfort to Paul

II. People are important: Unlikely helpers

A. Mark – a spoiled rich kid who finally gets it right Col 4:10b

(ESV) Colossians 4 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Markthe cousin of Barnabas(concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

1. Rich son of an early Christian mother – cousin to Barnabas

2. Possibly an early follower of Jesus – from the Garden of Geth?

3. Taken on 1st missionary journey - left at the very beginning

4. Cause of dispute between Paul / Barnabas that led to their break up

5. Restored somewhere along the way (Barnabas in Cyprus mission trip?)

6. Here – still gaining back acceptance – ‘receive him’

7. Here – ‘a comfort to me’

8. Finally ‘useful’ – Paul asks for him to come to him after almost all have left him alone to face death 2 Tim 4:11

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

B. Jesus / Justus – Unknown but valuable Col 4:11

(ESV) Colossians 4 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

1. A Jewish convert – name of Jesus – don’t call him that – call him Justus

2. A total unknown

3. An insider in Paul’s team

4. A comfort to Paul

III. People are important: Faithful workers

A. Epaphrus – a dedicated prayer warrior Col 4:12-13

(ESV) Colossians 4 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

Different person than Epaphroditus also mentioned in Philippians – this one was sent to Phillipi

1. A servant of Jesus Christ – Paul only used this designation for himself and Timothy – and here of Epaphrus

2. The founder of the Colossian church 1:7

3. From Colossea – communicated to Paul the current spiritual growth of the Colossian church

4. Helped in other locations in the Lycus valley (Laodicea / Hierapolis)

5. Worked hard for the kingdom and the church

6. Now prayed hard for them in his absence

7. Fellow prisoner

B. Luke - faithful throughout the journey Col 4:14

(ESV) Colossians 4 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

1. Likely a Gentile (not in the list of the circumcision)

2. A number of speculations about whether he was mentioned by another name or without a name elsewhere in the NT – all merely speculation – early church associated him with Antioch

3. Assuming he is the writer of Luke/Acts it appears he joins Paul as indicated by the ‘we sections’ in Acts beginning just before Paul travels West into Macedonia for the first time

4. An education person based upon his writing style, but one especially interested in the disenfranchised, poor, sick, women, outcasts based on gospel of Luke.

5. Personal physician – many physical problems

6. Beloved – close friendship

7. Last remaining person with Paul just prior to his death

C. *Demas – Faithful until he wasn’t Col 4:14, 2 Tim 4:10

(ESV) Colossians 4 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

1. Mentioned here

2. Fellow worker in Philemon

3. Fell away at the last

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

a. Loved the present world more

b. Abandoned Paul

IV. People are important: People impacting people

Christ Preeminent – examples of people impacting people

A. Nympha – Used her material stuff Col 4:15-16

15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

1. Her or his

2. Wealthy – larger house – hospitable to use her stuff for the kingdom

3. Not that the letters were always intended to be used universally

B. Archippus – Gave himself to the Lord’s ministry Col 4:17

(ESV) Colossians 4 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministrythat you have received in the Lord.”

1. Do the ministry the Lord has given you – everyone has at least one

2. Be sure you fully utilize the giftedness God has given you

3. Give yourself to it

4. From the Lord – use for the Lord

C. Paul – Ministered with a personal touch Col 4:18

(ESV) Colossians 4 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

1. Personal handwriting at the end of a dictated letter

a. Show it is authentic

b. Personal investment – not just mimeographed

2. Reflect own needs as well – I need you in my trouble – we are supporting each other – we are in it together