Colossians 4:7-18
Lesson 390
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
A short list of Paul's co-workers.
Final benediction.
Who was -
Tychicus (4:7) - Tychicus (meaning "Fortunate") was a gentile Christian, a "beloved brother and a faithful minister" (Ephesians 6:21) from Asia (modern-day Turkey). He joined Paul (Acts 20:4) on the Third Missionary Journey and traveled with him to Jerusalem to deliver aid to the needy. He was with Paul in Rome during his imprisonment and reported on his situation to the believers back in Colosse (4:7-8). Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus to help spread Christianity (2 Timothy 4:12), and some Bible scholars believe he also relieved Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12).
Onesimus (4:9) - A common slave name meaning "Useful." Onesimus was a slave who robbed his master, Philemon, and fled Colosse. He escaped to Rome, where he met and was converted by Paul. Paul sent him back to Colosse with "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon." In the epistle, Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him back, not as a slave, but as a "brother" (Philemon 1:10-19).
Aristarchus (4:10) - A Macedonian (Acts 19:29) from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who befriended Paul and helped him spread the word of God (Philemon 1:24). A Jewish convert, Aristarchus traveled with Paul on the third missionary journey and was cornered by a mob and almost killed during the silversmith riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He survived and traveled with Paul to Greece and Asia (20:4). He sailed to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:1-2) where they were both imprisoned (Colossians 4:10). It is uncertain how Aristarchus died. But some historians believe he was killed for his faith during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
Marcus (4:10) - He was also called John Mark or Marcus. Mark was a converted Jew and Barnabas' cousin. His mother, Mary, turned her home into a Christian meeting place (Acts 12:12). Although Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples, he almost certainly knew Jesus personally. Some scholars believe he was the naked man fleeing Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52). Mark joined Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but fell out of favor when he left the mission to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul's disappointment in Mark created a rift between Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-40). Mark eventually regained Paul's confidence (2 Timothy 4:11) and stood with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome (Philemon 1:23-24). Mark visited numerous countries witnessing and wrote "The Gospel According to Mark," probably while in Rome when the persecution of Christians was on the rise. He was in Ephesus with Timothy in AD 66 when Paul asked them to join him (2 Timothy 4:11). He also traveled with, and was like a son to, the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Many Bible scholars believe Mark was Peter's interpreter and was with him when "The First Epistle General of Peter" was written. It is thought that Mark was a Roman citizen and that he founded the church in Alexandra, where he died during the eighth year of Nero's reign.
Barnabas (4:10) - Barnabas (meaning "the encourager" or "the son of consolation") is a nickname for Joses (Joseph). Barnabas was a Jewish Levite (the tribe of Levi) from Cyprus (Acts 4:36). He was Mark's cousin, an important early Christian, and the first believer to support Paul. When the apostles doubted the sincerity of the tyrant Paul's conversion, Barnabas convinced them that his faith was genuine (Acts 9:26-27). "A good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith" (Acts 11:24), Barnabas sold his land and donated the proceeds to the church (Acts 4:37). As mentioned above, Barnabas and Mark traveled with Paul on the first missionary journey. A rift developed between Barnabas and Paul when Mark left the mission and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Later, Barnabas and Mark traveled to Cyprus spreading the Gospel without Paul (Acts 15:39). Mark and Barnabas eventually reconciled with Paul. Barnabas worked with him for a year in Antioch, teaching and building the church (Acts 11:25-26). When a famine struck, Barnabas helped Paul bring "relief" to Judea (Acts 11:29-30).
Justus (4:11) - Justus was a Jewish Christian, sometimes called Jesus. We see in this passage that he worked with Paul in Rome.
Luke (4:14) - Luke was Paul's protégé, also called Lucas. Some Bible scholars believe Luke was from Antioch, while others say Philippi. He was an educated and "beloved physician" and the leader of the Philippian Church. Luke is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He wrote "The Gospel According to Luke" and "The Acts of the Apostles" and traveled with Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by a ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). In Rome, Paul was held under house arrest in chains for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come from eyewitnesses who knew the Messiah (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories about the Virgin Mary, he probably knew her well. Little more is known about Luke; he is mentioned only three times in the Bible (here, 2 Timothy 4:11; and Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books, he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Demas (4:14) - Short for Demetrius, Demas was a traveling companion and fellow-laborer with Paul (Philemon 1:24). He stayed with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome but abandoned him during his second incarceration (2 Timothy 4:10).
Nymphas (4:15) - A devoted Christian from Laodicea. We learn in this passage that she held church services in her home.
Archippus (4:17) - The name Archippus means "master of the horse." Archippus was a Christian from Colosse and Paul's "fellowsoldier" in the battle against sin (Philemon 1:2). He was a member of Philemon's family, possibly his son. It is believed that he was one of the seventy disciples appointed by Jesus to spread the word in "every city and place" (Luke 10:1-17). Legend states that Archippus was murdered for his faith at Chomae, near Laodicea.
Tychicus (4:7) - Tychicus (meaning "Fortunate") was a gentile Christian, a "beloved brother and a faithful minister" (Ephesians 6:21) from Asia (modern-day Turkey). He joined Paul (Acts 20:4) on the Third Missionary Journey and traveled with him to Jerusalem to deliver aid to the needy. He was with Paul in Rome during his imprisonment and reported on his situation to the believers back in Colosse (4:7-8). Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus to help spread Christianity (2 Timothy 4:12), and some Bible scholars believe he also relieved Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12).
Onesimus (4:9) - A common slave name meaning "Useful." Onesimus was a slave who robbed his master, Philemon, and fled Colosse. He escaped to Rome, where he met and was converted by Paul. Paul sent him back to Colosse with "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon." In the epistle, Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus and accept him back, not as a slave, but as a "brother" (Philemon 1:10-19).
Aristarchus (4:10) - A Macedonian (Acts 19:29) from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2) who befriended Paul and helped him spread the word of God (Philemon 1:24). A Jewish convert, Aristarchus traveled with Paul on the third missionary journey and was cornered by a mob and almost killed during the silversmith riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He survived and traveled with Paul to Greece and Asia (20:4). He sailed to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:1-2) where they were both imprisoned (Colossians 4:10). It is uncertain how Aristarchus died. But some historians believe he was killed for his faith during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
Marcus (4:10) - He was also called John Mark or Marcus. Mark was a converted Jew and Barnabas' cousin. His mother, Mary, turned her home into a Christian meeting place (Acts 12:12). Although Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples, he almost certainly knew Jesus personally. Some scholars believe he was the naked man fleeing Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52). Mark joined Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but fell out of favor when he left the mission to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul's disappointment in Mark created a rift between Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-40). Mark eventually regained Paul's confidence (2 Timothy 4:11) and stood with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome (Philemon 1:23-24). Mark visited numerous countries witnessing and wrote "The Gospel According to Mark," probably while in Rome when the persecution of Christians was on the rise. He was in Ephesus with Timothy in AD 66 when Paul asked them to join him (2 Timothy 4:11). He also traveled with, and was like a son to, the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Many Bible scholars believe Mark was Peter's interpreter and was with him when "The First Epistle General of Peter" was written. It is thought that Mark was a Roman citizen and that he founded the church in Alexandra, where he died during the eighth year of Nero's reign.
Barnabas (4:10) - Barnabas (meaning "the encourager" or "the son of consolation") is a nickname for Joses (Joseph). Barnabas was a Jewish Levite (the tribe of Levi) from Cyprus (Acts 4:36). He was Mark's cousin, an important early Christian, and the first believer to support Paul. When the apostles doubted the sincerity of the tyrant Paul's conversion, Barnabas convinced them that his faith was genuine (Acts 9:26-27). "A good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith" (Acts 11:24), Barnabas sold his land and donated the proceeds to the church (Acts 4:37). As mentioned above, Barnabas and Mark traveled with Paul on the first missionary journey. A rift developed between Barnabas and Paul when Mark left the mission and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Later, Barnabas and Mark traveled to Cyprus spreading the Gospel without Paul (Acts 15:39). Mark and Barnabas eventually reconciled with Paul. Barnabas worked with him for a year in Antioch, teaching and building the church (Acts 11:25-26). When a famine struck, Barnabas helped Paul bring "relief" to Judea (Acts 11:29-30).
Justus (4:11) - Justus was a Jewish Christian, sometimes called Jesus. We see in this passage that he worked with Paul in Rome.
Luke (4:14) - Luke was Paul's protégé, also called Lucas. Some Bible scholars believe Luke was from Antioch, while others say Philippi. He was an educated and "beloved physician" and the leader of the Philippian Church. Luke is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He wrote "The Gospel According to Luke" and "The Acts of the Apostles" and traveled with Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by a ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). In Rome, Paul was held under house arrest in chains for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come from eyewitnesses who knew the Messiah (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories about the Virgin Mary, he probably knew her well. Little more is known about Luke; he is mentioned only three times in the Bible (here, 2 Timothy 4:11; and Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books, he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Demas (4:14) - Short for Demetrius, Demas was a traveling companion and fellow-laborer with Paul (Philemon 1:24). He stayed with Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome but abandoned him during his second incarceration (2 Timothy 4:10).
Nymphas (4:15) - A devoted Christian from Laodicea. We learn in this passage that she held church services in her home.
Archippus (4:17) - The name Archippus means "master of the horse." Archippus was a Christian from Colosse and Paul's "fellowsoldier" in the battle against sin (Philemon 1:2). He was a member of Philemon's family, possibly his son. It is believed that he was one of the seventy disciples appointed by Jesus to spread the word in "every city and place" (Luke 10:1-17). Legend states that Archippus was murdered for his faith at Chomae, near Laodicea.
Study Tip:
Read each Bible passage a second or third time to reinforce what you've
learned, and to catch important points you may have missed with the first read.
Read each Bible passage a second or third time to reinforce what you've
learned, and to catch important points you may have missed with the first read.
