Colossians 4.13-Epaphras Worked Hard Interceding in Prayer For Three Christian Communities in the Lycus Valley
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday May 14, 2017
Colossians: Colossians 4:13-Epaphras Worked Hard in Prayer for Three Christian Communities in the Lycus Valley
Lesson # 117
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. (NASB95)
“For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you” presents the reason for the previous statements recorded in Colossians 4:12 regarding Epaphras.
“I testify for him” is composed of the following: (1) verb martureō (μαρτυρέω), “I testify for” (2) intensive personal pronoun autos (αὐτός), “him.”
The verb martureō means “to testify, to bear witness to” since the word pertains to solemnly asserting something about someone, to offer firsthand authentication of a particular fact.
It refers to speaking well of a person on the basis of one’s personal experience with them.
The intensive personal pronoun autos means “him” referring of course to Epaphras.
Therefore, this verb martureō indicates that Paul is testifying that Epaphras has worked hard for the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis and which testimony is based upon his personal experience with Epaphras.
“That he has a deep concern for you” identifies specifically for the Colossians what Paul can testify about Epaphras.
“A deep concern” is composed of the following: (1) adjective polus (πολύς), “deep” (2) noun ponos (πόνος), “a concern.”
The noun ponos means “hard work, implying accompanying pain and distress” and pertains to work that involves much exertion or trouble.
Here the word refers to Epaphras working on behalf of the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis.
This word ponos is modified by the adjective polus which means “hard” since the word pertains to being high on a scale of extent and denotes degree.
Here it refers to the degree to which Epaphras worked on behalf of the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave owned by Christ, sends each of you his regards. He is always causing himself to make it his habit of wrestling in his prayers for each of you that each of you would be established as mature. The result would be that each of you are absolutely convinced with regards to every aspect of the Father’s will. 13 For I testify about him that he is working hard on behalf of each one of you as well as each one of those located in Laodicea and in addition each one of those residing in Hierapolis. (My translation)
In Colossians 4:13, the apostle presents the reason for his previous statements recorded in Colossians 4:12 regarding Epaphras.
In the latter, he passes along to the Colossian Christian community a greeting from Epaphras who is a Colossian himself.
He then informs them that Epaphras was always causing himself to make it his habit of wrestling in his prayers for each of them that they would be established as mature.
He then communicates the intended result which would be that they would be absolutely convinced with regards to every aspect of the Father’s will.
Now, here in verse 13, Paul testifies that Epaphras has worked hard on behalf of the Colossians as well as those Christians residing in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
The three largest cities of the Lycus Valley in Phrygia were Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis; in this period Colossae was the least significant of the three. Hierapolis hosted healing cults, a temple to the emperor and the reported entrance to the underworld; it also had a significant Jewish presence in this period. Laodicea was a wealthy commercial center, despite its somewhat remote location.
Paul is testifying that Epaphras was working hard for the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis and which testimony is based upon his personal experience with Epaphras.
Lenski writes “When Paul says, ‘I testify’ he refers to what he has seen, that Epaphras talked and talked with him and was full of deepest concern to bring these churches through the Judaistic attacks so as to lose no members. Here Paul mentions also the people of Laodicea and those of Hieropolis. Epaphras had all of them on his heart. See the introduction regarding the close proximity of the three towns. Epaphras felt responsible for all three. He may have founded the church in all three places; that he was the spiritual leader of all three seems certain; compare v. 16 and note also 2:1 regarding Paul’s concern.”
Therefore, this would indicate that Epaphras interceded in prayer for these three Christian communities because he was working hard on behalf of them.
In other words, interceding for the Colossians and these other churches was one of the ways he was working hard for them.
When Paul speaks of Epaphras working hard, he is speaking of work which involves pain and distress and much exertion or trouble.
Paul is emphasizing in Colossians 4:13 the degree to which Epaphras worked on behalf of the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis.
So like Paul, Epaphras experienced much pain and distress in prayer for the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis and involves great exertion and trouble for him to intercede in prayer for these churches.
“Laodicea” refers to a city located in Phrygia in the Lycus Valley which was north of Colossae.
Laodicea was a city of southwest Phrygia in the Roman province of Asia in the west of what is now known as Asiatic Turkey and was founded by Seleucid Antiochus II in the third century B.C. and named after his wife Laodice.
The city was situated on a plateau between two small rivers, namely the Asopus on the west and the Caprus River on the east.
“Hierapolis” refers to a city whose name means “holy city” which was a city in the Roman province of Asia, in the west of what is now Asiatic Turkey and was located along the northern slope of the Lycus River Valley of Phrygia, approximately 10 miles east of where the Meander River and Lycus River meet.
Hierapolis was one of the preeminent cities of the Lycus Valley, along with Laodicea and Colossae.
In Colossians 2:1, the apostle Paul also informed the Colossians that he struggled in intercessory prayer for the Colossians and the Laodicean church and all those Christians who he had never met personally.
Thus, since Paul stated that Epaphras worked hard for the Christian communities in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis by interceding in prayer for these churches, he too was working hard as well by doing the same.
Colossians 1:21 In fact, I want each and every one of you to know for certain how great a struggle I am experiencing on behalf of each and every one of you as well as for those who are located in Laodicea, yes in fact, for all those who have never seen my face in person. (My translation)
One of the four great responsibilities of the pastor is interceding in prayer for his congregation.
The Scriptures teach that the pastor-teacher, i.e. the overseer has four responsibilities that are the means by which he tends and shepherds the flock of God: (1) Study (2 Timothy 2:15) (2) Teach (1 Timothy 4:13) (3) Pray (Acts 6:1-4). (4) Exemplify the Christian way of life (Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 5:3).
The first responsibility of the pastor-teacher is to study.
The pastor-teacher first and foremost must be a student of the Word of God himself; therefore he must be diligent in learning the Word.
Study is the first responsibility because if the pastor does not study the Word of God, he will not be able to teach it.
If he doesn’t study the Word of God, he cannot fulfill his responsibility to intercede in prayer for his congregation since the Word of God instructs the believer as to how to pray for others and what to pray for others.
If he doesn’t study, he cannot exemplify godliness since applying the Word of God, obeying the Word of God is how the believer exemplifies godliness.