John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras , etc.] To know the grace of God, believe the truth of the Gospel, and to own and profess it sincerely. Our dear fellow servant ; a servant of Christ he was, and a fellow servant of the apostles, jointly engaged with them in preaching the Gospel; which character, as it greatly commends Epaphras, and shows him to be a very considerable preacher of the word, so it expresses the great humility and condescension of the apostle, in putting him upon a level with himself, though he was not in that high office of the apostleship he was. And dear this precious servant of Christ was to him, and his fellow ministers, on account of the grace and gifts bestowed on him, because of his usefulness in the ministry, and his faithfulness and integrity in the discharge of it; and whose company and conversation in the prison greatly endeared him to them, for he was a fellow prisoner, as well as a fellow servant, ( Philemon 1:23). It follows, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ ; one whom Christ had made a minister and not man, who was qualified, and sent forth, and made successful by him in his service; and who preached none but Christ, and him crucified, in the business of salvation: and he was a faithful one; one that sought not his own glory, but the glory of him that sent him; nor to please men, but his master; who concealed no part of his message, but freely and fully declared the whole; he was faithful to Christ, who put him into the ministry, and to the souls of men, to whom he ministered: and therefore it is said, he was such an one for you; for them, not for himself; for their spiritual good and advantage; he sought not theirs, but them; he had a great zeal for them, dearly loved them, and spent his time and strength, and made use of his gifts and talents while among them, for their use and benefit.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness run through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving. The more we fix ou hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, n enemy could deprive them of it. The gospel is the word of truth, and we may safely venture our souls upon it. And all who hear the word of the gospel, ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, obey it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it. Worldly love arises either from views of interest or from likeness in manners; carnal love from the appetite for pleasure. To these, something corrupt, selfish and base always cleaves. But Christian love arises from the Holy Spirit, and is full of holiness. (Col 1:9-14)
Greek Textus Receptus
καθως 2531 ADV και 2532 CONJ εμαθετε 3129 5627 V-2AAI-2P απο 575 PREP επαφρα 1889 N-GSM του 3588 T-GSM αγαπητου 27 A-GSM συνδουλου 4889 N-GSM ημων 2257 P-1GP ος 3739 R-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S πιστος 4103 A-NSM υπερ 5228 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP διακονος 1249 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Fellow-servant. Used by Paul only here and ch. iv. 7.Minister (diakonov). See on Matt. xx. 26; Mark ix. 35.
For you (uper umwn). Read hJmwn, us as Rev., on our behalf: as Paul's representative.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:7 {Of Epaphras} (apo epafra). "From Epaphras" who is the source of their knowledge of Christ. {On our behalf} (huper hemwn). Clearly correct (Aleph A B D) and not huper humwn (on your behalf). In a true sense Epaphras was Paul's messenger to Colossae.
