Colossians 4:12 Commentary and Bible Study

What can we say distinctively about Epaphras? It was probably true of the others too but he is particularly distinguished by this. He is an interceder. Now Epaphras was a native of Colossae, probably converted through Paul in Ephesus, but he went to Colossae and he evangelised the town and highly successfully. Not only that town but Laodicea and Hierapolis too. He was the evangelist who formed those churches and brought people to the Lord and now he is ready to stay in prison with Paul, and be treated as a prisoner. But he is particularly distinguished by what is said halfway through verse 12: ‘always labouring [or striving] fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.’ The Greek word for ‘labouring fervently’ is agonising which describes an intensity of prayer and pleading. What does he pray? That they ‘may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.’ He remembers the people, he prays for individuals, he prays for their situations, that they will be strengthened and delivered. This is how we ought to pray for one another. He prays for their protection, he prays for the expansion of the Church, for the enlargement, that glory may be brought to Christ through the salvation of saved souls. He prays that they will not surrender to the Colossian heresy, these efforts being made by Judaisers and mystics to get into the church and pervert the teaching. He won’t let it go; he is always doing it, he will not stop praying for them. His prayers are not fitful and listless, just occasional and half-hearted, they are wrestling, pleading for the people. He asks God, it tells us here, that they may become mature and complete in the will of God, which means, the will of God means not only what you do for him but his will as expressed in his word. In other words, he prays that they will have a clear grasp of doctrine, that the young in Christ will deepen and mature. He prays for them, no doubt by name, he knows them. He prays that they may obey spiritual duties day by day and never leave off and never slide. He prays that they will be applied and fruitful in Christian service.