“Unsung Heroes” Colossians 4:7-18“]
This is week 11 of our study of our series “Look Up! Living Below For Who Is Above!”
Introduction
Last week’s message explored what it means to walk in wisdom. This week, we conclude our series with an introduction to some of the people who played a role in Paul’s ministry while in prison in Rome during the writing of his letter to the Colossians.
Message
Read Colossians 4:7-18
Final Greetings
7 “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about your circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
Tychicus: We first meet Tychicus in Acts 20:4, during Paul’s third missionary journey. He is mentioned as one of Paul’s companions on the way from Corinth to Jerusalem to deliver a gift to the church there (see Romans 15:25–26).
Apparently, the Colossians Christians did not know who he was, so Paul introduced him by saying, “He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” and then explaining the purpose for sending him, “I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about your circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.”
Onesimus: Onesimus was the fugitive slave of Philemon, the apostle Paul’s friend. Onesimus had robbed his master Philemon and fled to Rome, a large city where he could easily hide. Providentially, Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome where the apostle was serving time in prison.
Aristarchus: He was a Thessalonian, (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. (Acts 19:29) He was with Paul on his return to Asia, (Acts 20:4) and again, Acts 27:2 on his voyage to Rome. We trace him afterwards as Paul’s fellow prisoner in Rome.
Mark, the cousin of Barnabas: John Mark, often just called Mark, is the author of the gospel of Mark. He was a believer in the early church mentioned directly only in the book of Acts. John Mark is first mentioned as the son of a woman named Mary (Acts 12:12), whose house was being used as a place for believers to gather and pray. Later, Mark is mentioned as a companion of Barnabas and Paul during their travels together (Acts 12:25).
Justus: Not much is known about him. Perhaps he was a Corinthian proselyte, whose house adjoined the synagogue and who received Paul when the Jews opposed him (Acts 18:7). It is interesting that Paul referred to him by the name of Jesus. Verse 11 – “Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings.”
Epaphras: Paul tells the church that Epaphras had reported their faith to him, and in 4:12 Paul describes him as “wrestling in prayer” on behalf of the church while he was working hard in other churches. The Colossian believers learned from Epaphras, who learned from Paul.
Luke: Little is known about Luke, the author of the books of Luke and Acts in the Bible. We do know he was a physician and the only Gentile to write any part of the New Testament. Paul’s letter to the Colossians draws a distinction between Luke and other colleagues “of the circumcision,” meaning the Jews (Colossians 4:11). Luke is the only New Testament writer clearly identifiable as a non-Jew.
In addition, Luke was a close friend of Paul, who referred to him as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14).
Demas: Here we have a person who was not an “unsung hero.” “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.” “Demas had at one time been one of Paul’s “fellow workers” in the gospel ministry along with Mark, Luke, and others (Philemon 1:24). During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, Demas was also in Rome (Colossians 4:14).
There is also biblical evidence that Demas was with Paul during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, at least for a while. Then something happened. Demas forsook Paul, abandoned the ministry, and left town. Paul wrote about the sad situation: “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10).
The Greek verb used in the original implies that Demas had not merely left Paul but had left him “in the lurch”; that is, Demas had abandoned Paul in a time of need. The apostle was in prison, facing a death sentence, and that’s when Demas chose to set sail. Undoubtedly, Paul was deeply let down by Demas. It’s never easy to see a friend and associate in whom you’ve placed your trust forsake you in the midst of hardship.
The separation caused by Demas’ desertion of Paul was not merely spatial but spiritual. Demas left Rome because he fell in love with the world. In other words, Demas chose the corrupt value system of the unsaved world over what heaven values. As the NLT translates it, Demas “loves the things of this life” (2 Timothy 4:10). We don’t know the details of Demas’ situation, but it is evident that Demas decided that what Satan has to offer in this life is better than what God has to offer in the next.”
From gotquestions.org
Nympha: We are not sure if this person was a male or female (although the NIV translation indicates that she was a woman). None the less, Nympha provided a place for believers to meet.
Archippus: “Archippus is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 1:2. In his letter to Philemon, Paul refers to Archippus as a “fellow soldier.” In Colossians 4:17, Paul requests his readers to “tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.’” Apparently, then, Archippus was a young man from Colossae tasked with some sort of ministry in the church.
Many believe Archippus to have been the son of Philemon and Apphia, close friends of Paul’s. The connection between Archippus and Philemon seems clear in Philemon 1:2–2,, “To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home. . . .” Paul is writing to a household. Philemon; his wife, Apphia; and his son, Archippus comprise the family unit. The church of Colossae met in their home.
Some believe Paul’s words to Archippus to “complete the ministry” are a gentle rebuke for having neglected certain of his duties. But a majority see Paul’s admonition to Philemon 1:2–2,Archippus as simple encouragement, similar to Paul’s exhortations in his epistles to Timothy and Titus (see 2 Timothy 4:5). One tradition holds that Archippus was a leader in Laodicea, a city about 12 miles away from Colossae. It seems strange to send an admonition to Archippus through leaders of another church, but Paul’s intent was that the letter to the Colossians should be read in Laodicea, too: “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans” (Colossians 4:16). In any case, Archippus would receive the message.
Ultimately, we do not know much about Archippus other than he was a Christian in the early church who was granted a ministry from the Lord and who soldiered for the faith. Paul’s encouragement to Archippus and his family should encourage all of us to also “complete the ministry” God has given us.”
From gotquestions.org
Concluding Remarks and Application
So……………what do we gather from knowing about these “unsung heroes?”
- Each one played a part in helping Paul tell his story.
- Each one, except for Luke was an ordinary person
- Each one most likely did not view themself as an extraordinary person.
- Each one of us can be an “unsung hero” simply by playing our part in our every day walk with Jesus.