Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
12 Always striving. Here we have an example of a good pastor, whom distance of place cannot induce to forget the Church, so as to prevent him from taking the care of it with him beyond the sea. We must notice, also, the strength of entreaty that is expressed in the word striving.
Tychicus carries this letter so he can tell them Paul's full condition by word of mouth, which matters more to them than mere writing. Paul calls him a beloved brother and faithful minister, mark that a great apostle owns a faithful minister as brother, for faithfulness itself is lovely and commands affection.
AI summary
Commenting on Colossians 4:7-18
Epaphras, who is one of you,.... A native of Colosse, and one of their faithful ministers; see Col 1:7. A servant of Christ; not merely in the same sense as every believer is, but as he was a preacher of the Gospel, in which he faithfully served his Lord and master, Christ: saluteth you; sends his Christian respects to you, for whom he bore a...