Final Greetings

Introduction

Pray at the beginning!

Recap of letter

Paul has heard about the believers in Colossae even though he had not personally been there

he writes a letter of encouragement to them

Paul is praying for them

that they would grow in the knowledge of God

that they would grow in the wisdom of his will

Paul calls on them to walk in this wisdom and knowledge

that they would get rid of any false, worldly teaching

that they would take off and put to death the things of the flesh

because we have died with Christ and we have also been risen with Christ

that they would put on Christ

Paul tells us practically how we live that out in relationships that point people to Christ

Final Greetings

there is a temptation to skip this part, it is kind of like the credits of a movie

I watched the movie, what does it matter who did what thing to make the movie happen

I am not going to remember their names anyway

but there is a story behind these names

maybe it doesn’t mean as much to us today, but it did to the readers

and if God has it in his word, then there is something in it that points us to the gospel.

Colossians 4:7–18 CSB

7 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. 13 For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. 16 After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.” 18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

God uses fellow believers to encourage and assure us of his love and the advancement of his kingdom.

Delivering Encouragement

there is a lot of christian persecution going on around the world

this is not new and will not stop until with him in glory

Paul who was himself a persecutor, was persecuted for his faith

this was known all throughout the christian world

the point of persecution is to stop the message from going out

Paul sends two people with the purpose of delivering this letter and the letter of Philemon

this letter and their testimony was meant to encourage the believers

Colossians 4:7–9 CSB

7 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Encouragement from one who has been in the trenches with Paul

Tychicus is one that has been through a lot with Paul

Acts 20:1–5 CSB

1 After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying farewell, departed to go to Macedonia. 2 And when he had passed through those areas and offered them many words of encouragement, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,

He was a man that Paul would send ahead to prepare for him to come, he would serve while Paul was there and he would deliver letters to the churches that Paul had written

this was not just a delivery boy, but a ministry partner would be able to come in and share all about what has been happening in Paul’s ministry

Encouragement from a reconciled brother

Now, one of their own who has come to faith because of Paul’s ministry is back home

Onesimus was a run away slave of Philemon

came to faith under Paul and now is being sent back

What a testimony for the church, what an encouragement for them, not just happy that Paul’s ministry was fruitful, but touching their community

We need more people in this role and it is one that is available right here and now in our church

If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate luke warmness, it is in the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.

Charles Spurgeon

I am not saying that we will send you to other churches to report on what we are doing

but we need people who will join the missions team and share the things that God is doing through our missionaries

results of a church encouraged by seeing God work

more likely to support missions when special things pop up

more likely to pray for those missionaries

more likely to rise up more missionaries

more likely to encourage church members into local missions and ministry

Paul sent these two to encourage the Colossians

which would bring more support for his ministry

which would draw them more into the gospel work

Delivering Greetings

I remember during VBS when I was a kid writing a letter to a missionary and thinking it was so cool when I received one in return

during VBS they pumped up the missionaries and told how great they and their work are

I felt like they were celebrities

and to think they were writing me…

Paul sends greeting from men who have been through a lot with him

I mean, the Colossians were probably thinking… Aristarchus knows who we are!

Colossians 4:10–14 CSB

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. 13 For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

Greetings from Jewish believers that are serving Paul

Aristarchus - one in prison with Paul currently

like Tychicus, has been through a lot with Paul

like Paul, he has been drug in front of mobs

Demetrius in Ephesus caused a disturbance because the church was making great strides

the idol market was down and he was making less money

a riot breaks out and although they wanted Paul, they took with them two others

Acts 19:28–29 CSB

28 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.

John Mark -

believed to be the son of the owners of the upper room, where Jesus and his apostles had the last supper

also believed to the the young man in the book of mark who ran from those who came to arrest Jesus and ran away naked as he escaped.

and he was Barnabas’s cousin

Mark had gone out with Barnabas and Paul in the first missionary journey

he left as things were getting harder

this caused Paul and Barnabas to have a split when time came for the second missionary journey

now, Paul and Mark have been reconciled and he is telling the Colossians, if he ever comes to you, welcome him

Justus - we no nothing… he is not spoken of anywhere else

we know he was a Jewish person that served Paul

From Epaphras, who you sent out to the ministry

believed to be the former pastor of Colossae

at the very least a believer from there who still had a heart

not only sends greetings, but is reported that he wrestles or strives

the word is one that like an athlete fighting and battling for a victory

From Gentile believers who are serving me

Luke and Demas

Luke the doctor

traveled with Paul at different times in the book of Acts

writer of Luke and Acts

Demas - later reported to Timothy that he would abandon Paul for the love of the world

Why is this important - maybe not because they are celebrities like I thought when I was a kid

Our family is much bigger than you realize

these are not just people who are out doing amazing God things

these are brothers and sisters in Christ living to make him known,

that we are living for the same thing in different places

Delivering Assurance

This has been a theme for the entire letter

a letter coming from Paul, though he had not traveled there

praying for them to grow in their faith

Colossians 4:15–18 CSB

15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. 16 After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.” 18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Be assured that there are fellow believers close by

not only look farther out and see what God is doing, connect with those that are 10 miles down the road

distance between Laodicea and Colossae

Be assured that Archippus has been called into the ministry

It is believed that Archippus is the one who has taken over as a Pastor after Epaphras when to serve with Paul

I believe this is double meaning kind of quote

to Archippus, Do the work you have been called

to the church, Paul believes this man is called to do the work, support him in that

Be assured that this is from the Apostle Paul himself

this is intentional with purpose

2 Thessalonians 3:17 CSB

17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write.

there were some that were writing letters and claiming to have Paul’s authority but was sending false teaching

This is to encourage us as well

this is not a random letter that was found thrown into a book for us to contemplate on if we should take it to heart

this is from Paul, to the Colossians

this is scripture, God’s word and as such demands our obedience

I pray you have enjoyed our study of this letter