Col 4:10 | RWP | e4.org | Aristarchus ( Αρισταρχος ). He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection ( ; ) and started with Paul to Rome ( ; ). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now. My fellow-prisoner ( ο συναιχμαλωτος μου ). One of Paul's compounds, found elsewhere only in Lucian. Paul uses it of Epaphras in , but whether of actual voluntary imprisonment or of spiritual imprisonment like συνστρατιωτες (fellow-soldier) in ; we do not know. Abbott argues for a literal imprisonment and it is possible that some of Paul's co-workers ( συν-εργο ) voluntarily shared imprisonment with him by turns. Mark ( Μαρκος ). Once rejected by Paul for his defection in the work ( ), but now cordially commended because he had made good again. The cousin of Barnabas ( ο ανεψιος Βαρναβα ). It was used for "nephew" very late, clearly "cousin" here and common so in the papyri. This kinship explains the interest of Barnabas in Mark ( ; ; ). If he come unto you, receive him ( εαν ελθη προς υμας δεξασθε αυτον ). This third class conditional sentence ( εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of ερχομα ) gives the substance of the commands ( εντολας ) about Mark already sent, how we do not know. But Paul's commendation of Mark is hearty and unreserved as he does later in . The verb δεχομα is the usual one for hospitable reception ( ; ) like προσδεχομα ( ) and υποδεχομα ( ).

‏ Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus ( Αρισταρχος ). He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection (Ac 19:29; 20:4) and started with Paul to Rome (Ac 27:2; Phm 1:24). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now.

My fellow-prisoner ( ο συναιχμαλωτος μου ). One of Paul's compounds, found elsewhere only in Lucian. Paul uses it of Epaphras in Phm 1:23, but whether of actual voluntary imprisonment or of spiritual imprisonment like συνστρατιωτες (fellow-soldier) in Php 2:25; Phm 1:2 we do not know. Abbott argues for a literal imprisonment and it is possible that some of Paul's co-workers ( συν-εργο ) voluntarily shared imprisonment with him by turns.

Mark ( Μαρκος ). Once rejected by Paul for his defection in the work (Ac 15:36-39), but now cordially commended because he had made good again.

The cousin of Barnabas ( ο ανεψιος Βαρναβα ). It was used for "nephew" very late, clearly "cousin" here and common so in the papyri. This kinship explains the interest of Barnabas in Mark (Ac 12:25; 13:5; 15:36-39).

If he come unto you, receive him ( εαν ελθη προς υμας δεξασθε αυτον ). This third class conditional sentence ( εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of ερχομα ) gives the substance of the commands ( εντολας ) about Mark already sent, how we do not know. But Paul's commendation of Mark is hearty and unreserved as he does later in 2Ti 4:11. The verb δεχομα is the usual one for hospitable reception (Mt 10:14; Joh 4:45) like προσδεχομα (Php 2:29) and υποδεχομα (Lu 10:38).