Col 1:7, 4:7 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras-who is for you ] Who this Epaphras was we cannot tell; only it is likely that he was a Colossian, and became, by the call and grace of Christ, a deacon of this Church, faithfully labouring with the apostle, to promote its best interests. Some think that he is the same with Epaphroditus, Epaphras being a contraction of that name, as Demas is of Demetrius ; and it is remarkable that one of the Slavonic versions has Epaphroditus in this place. That he was a Colossian is evident from : Epaphras, who is one of you , οεξυμων. some think that he was the first who preached the Gospel among this people, and hence called an apostle . He was raised up among themselves to be their minister in the absence of the apostle, and he showed himself to be worthy of this calling by a faithful discharge of his ministry, and by labouring fervently for them all , and pressing them forward, that they might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God .

‏ Colossians 1:7

Verse 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras-who is for you] Who this Epaphras was we cannot tell; only it is likely that he was a Colossian, and became, by the call and grace of Christ, a deacon of this Church, faithfully labouring with the apostle, to promote its best interests. Some think that he is the same with Epaphroditus, Epaphras being a contraction of that name, as Demas is of Demetrius; and it is remarkable that one of the Slavonic versions has Epaphroditus in this place. That he was a Colossian is evident from Col 4:12: Epaphras, who is one of you, οεξυμων. some think that he was the first who preached the Gospel among this people, and hence called an apostle. He was raised up among themselves to be their minister in the absence of the apostle, and he showed himself to be worthy of this calling by a faithful discharge of his ministry, and by labouring fervently for them all, and pressing them forward, that they might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

‏ Colossians 4:7

Verse 7. All my state shall Tychicus] See the note on Eph 6:21. Tychicus well knew the apostle's zeal and perseverance in preaching the Gospel, his sufferings on that account, his success in converting both Jews and Gentiles, and the converts which were made in Caesar's household; he could give these to the Colossians in ample detail, and some of them it would not have been prudent to commit to writing.