Homilies on Colossians

<!--<span class="stiki"></span>--><!--<span class="stiki"></span>-->Colossians 4:12, 13

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness, that he has much zeal for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.”

In the commencement of this Epistle also, he commended this man for his love; for even to praise is a sign of love; thus in the beginning he said, “Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” To pray for one is also a sign of love, and causes love again. He commends him moreover in order to open a door to his teachings, for reverendness in the teacher is the disciples' advantage; and so again is his saying, “one of you,” in order that they might pride themselves upon the man, as producing such men. And he says, “always striving for you in prayers.” He said not simply “praying,” but “striving,” trembling and fearing. “For I bear him witness,” he says, “that he has much zeal for you.” A trustworthy witness. “That he has,” he says, “much zeal for you,” that is, that he loves you exceedingly; and burns with passionate affection for you. “And them in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.” He commends him to those also. But whence were they to know this? They would assuredly have heard; however, they would also learn it when the Epistle was read. For he said, “Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.” “That ye may stand perfect,” he says. At once he both accuses them, and without offensiveness gives them advice and counsel. For it is possible both to be perfect, and withal not to stand, as if one were to know all, and still be wavering; it is possible also not to be perfect, and yet to stand, as if one were to know a part, and stand [not] firmly. But this man prays for both: “That ye may stand perfect,” he says. See how again he has reminded them of what he said about the Angels, and about life. “And fully assured,” he says, “in all the will of God.” It is not enough, simply to do His will. He that is “filled,” suffers not any other will to be within him, for if so, he is not wholly filled. “For I bear him witness,” he says, “that he has much zeal.” Both “zeal,” and “great”; both are intensitive. As he says himself, when writing to the Corinthians, “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy.”

Ver. 14. “Luke, the beloved physician, salutes you.” This is the Evangelist. It is not to lower this man that he places him after, but to raise the other, viz. Epaphroditus. It is probable that there were others called by this name. “And Demas,” he says. After saying, “Luke, the physician, salutes you,” he added, “the beloved.” And no small praise is this, but even great exceedingly, to be beloved of Paul.

Ver. 15. “Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church that is in their house.”

See how he cements, and knits them together with one another, not by salutation only, but also by interchanging his Epistles. Then again he pays a compliment by addressing him individually. And this he does not without a reason, but in order to lead the others also to emulate his zeal. For it is not a small thing not to be numbered with the rest. Mark further how he shows the man to be great, seeing his house was a church.

Ver. 14. “And when this Epistle has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.” I suppose there are some of the things therein written, which it was needful that those also should hear. And they would have the greater advantage of recognizing their own errors in the charges brought against others.

“And that you also read the Epistle from Laodicea.” Some say that this is not Paul's to them, but theirs to Paul, for he said not that to the Laodiceans, but that written “from Laodicea.”

Ver. 17. “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” Wherefore does he not write to him? Perhaps he needed it not, but only a bare reminding, so as to be more diligent.

Ver. 18. “The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand.” This is a proof of their sincerity and affection; that they both looked at his handwriting, and that with emotion. “Remember my bonds.” Wonderful! How great the consolation! For this is enough to cheer them on to all things, and make them bear themselves more nobly in their trials; but he made them not only the braver, but also the more nearly interested. “Grace be with you. Amen.”

It is great praise, and greater than all the rest, his saying of Epaphras, “who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ.” And he calls him a minister for them, like as he terms himself also a minister of the Church, as when he says, “Whereof I Paul was made a minister.” To the same dignity he advances this man; and above he calls him a “fellow-servant”, and here, “a servant.” “Who is of you,” he says, as if speaking to a mother, and saying, “who is of your womb.” But this praise might have gendered envy; therefore he commends him not from these things only, but also from what had regard to themselves; and so he does away with envy, both in the former place, and here. “Always,” he says, “striving for you,” not now only, while with us, to make a display; nor yet only while with you, to make a display before you. By saying, “striving,” he has showed his great earnestness. Then, that he might not seem to be flattering them, he added, “that he has much zeal for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.” And the words, “that you may stand perfect,” are not words of flattery, but of a reverend teacher. Both “fully assured” he says, “and perfect.” The one he granted them, the other he said was lacking. And he said not, “that you be not shaken,” but, “that you may stand.” Their being saluted, however, by many, is refreshing to them, seeing that not only their friends from among themselves; but others also, remember them.

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord.” His chief aim is to subject them to him entirely. For they could no more have complaint against him for rebuking them, when they themselves had taken it all upon them; for it is not reasonable to talk to the disciples about the teacher. But to stop their mouths, he writes thus to them; “Say to Archippus,” he says, “Take heed.” This word is everywhere used to alarm; as when he says, “Take heed of dogs.” “Take heed lest there shall be any one that makes spoil of you.” “Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.” And he always so expresses himself when he would terrify. “Take heed,” he says, “to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” He does not even allow him the power of choosing, as he says himself, “For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward: but if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.” “That thou fulfill it,” continually using diligence. “Which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” Again, the word “in” means “through the Lord.” He gave it you, says he, not we. He subjects them also to him, when he shows that they had been committed to his hands by God.