Commentary - Colossians 4:10-14

Bird's-eye view

As Paul brings his letter to the Colossians to a close, he does what he so often does, which is to ground his high and majestic theology in the earthy reality of personal relationships. The gospel does not create abstract monads who float in some ethereal spiritual space; it creates a tangible, interconnected body of believers. This section is a list of personal greetings, but it is far more than a mere "saying hello." It is a strategic display of the unity, diversity, and mutual encouragement that characterizes the kingdom of God. Paul, a prisoner in Rome, is surrounded by a team. These names represent the sinews and ligaments of the body of Christ, connecting the apostle to the churches he loves and serves.

In these few verses, we see the gospel breaking down ancient walls. We have Jews and Gentiles working side-by-side. We see a restored failure (Mark), a tireless intercessor (Epaphras), a faithful professional (Luke), and a future apostate (Demas). It is a microcosm of the church in any age. The greetings are a powerful reminder that our faith is not lived out in isolation. It is corporate, messy, and deeply personal. The comfort Paul receives from these men, and the prayers Epaphras offers for the Colossians, are the very currency of the kingdom. This is what Christian fellowship looks like on the ground: a band of brothers, united in service to their King, strengthening one another for the work of the gospel.

Outline

Context In Colossians

These personal greetings form the final section of Paul's letter, following his practical instructions for Christian households (Col 3:18-4:1) and his general exhortations to prayer and wise conduct (Col 4:2-6). Having laid the profound theological foundation of Christ's supremacy over all creation and His headship of the church (Chapters 1-2), and having detailed the ethical implications of being raised with Christ (Chapter 3), Paul now concludes with this list of names. This is not an afterthought. It serves to personally connect the apostle and his team to the Colossian believers, reinforcing the loving, familial bond that undergirds all the instruction. The men mentioned here are not just names; they are living examples of the very truths Paul has been teaching. Their faithful service, comfort, and prayers are the practical outworking of a life "hidden with Christ in God." This section acts as a final seal on the letter, a tangible demonstration of the communion of the saints that transcends distance and imprisonment.

Key Issues

The Gospel Embodied

It is a great temptation for those of us who love theology to treat it as an abstract set of propositions. We can get all the doctrinal points lined up correctly and still miss the central point of the Christian faith, which is communion. Communion with God, and flowing from that, communion with His people. Paul never makes this mistake. After soaring to the heights of Christology in chapter 1, he brings it all down to earth with a list of his friends. This is theology with a pulse.

These names are not just shout-outs. They are evidence. They are proof that the gospel Paul preaches actually works. It takes a Macedonian like Aristarchus, a Jerusalem blue-blood like Mark, a Roman-named Jew like Justus, a native Colossian like Epaphras, a professional Greek doctor like Luke, and it welds them into a single unit, a team dedicated to the kingdom of God. The abstract doctrine of the church as the body of Christ is here given names and faces. This is what the gospel produces: not just right ideas, but right relationships. These men are Paul's fellow workers, his fellow prisoners, and his comfort. Doctrine creates fellowship, and fellowship adorns doctrine.

Verse by Verse Commentary

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

Paul begins with greetings from his inner circle. First is Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica who had been with Paul through thick and thin, including the riot in Ephesus and the shipwreck on the way to Rome. Paul calls him a fellow prisoner. Whether this was a literal imprisonment alongside Paul or a metaphorical way of describing his loyal companionship in Paul's house arrest, the point is one of deep solidarity. Aristarchus had thrown his lot in with the apostle, for better or for worse. Next comes Mark, and this is a name that should warm our hearts. This is John Mark, the one who deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, causing a sharp contention between the two apostles. But here he is, years later, back in Paul's good graces. Not only that, but Paul has apparently sent instructions ahead to the Colossians that they are to welcome him. This is a beautiful picture of gospel restoration. The gospel does not discard failures; it redeems and restores them. The man who was once "unprofitable" is now a key part of the apostolic team.

11 and also Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be a comfort to me.

The third man is named Jesus, a common Jewish name at the time, the same as Joshua. He is given the Latin surname Justus, meaning "righteous," likely to distinguish him from the Lord. Paul then makes a significant parenthetical comment. These three men, Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus, are his only fellow workers in Rome who are from the circumcision, that is, of Jewish background. This is a sad but telling statement. At this point in his ministry, in the capital of the Empire, the great apostle to the Gentiles found that most of his Jewish Christian brethren had abandoned him, likely due to pressure from the Judaizers or fear of persecution. But these three stood firm, and Paul says they were a comfort to him. The word for comfort here has the sense of a soothing encouragement. In the midst of his chains and the opposition he faced, the loyal presence of these three Jewish brothers was a balm to his soul.

12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God.

Now Paul turns to the Gentile believers with him. First up is Epaphras, and he gets a special commendation. Paul identifies him as one of your number, reminding the Colossians that he is their man, their native son, the one who likely founded their church. He is a slave of Christ Jesus, a title of high honor. But his great distinction is his prayer life. Paul says he is always striving for them in his prayers. The Greek word is agonizomai, from which we get our word "agonize." This is not a casual, sleepy "God bless the Colossians" kind of prayer. This is wrestling. This is spiritual warfare. Epaphras is in a spiritual agony of intercession for his home church. And what is the goal of this intense prayer? That they would stand complete and fully assured in all God's will. He prays for their spiritual maturity and their doctrinal stability, the very themes of this letter. Epaphras is a model for every pastor and for every Christian who truly loves the church.

13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Paul backs up his description of Epaphras's prayer life by bearing personal witness to his zeal. The word for deep concern could be translated as "much toil" or "great labor." Epaphras's care for the churches in the Lycus Valley, not just Colossae but also the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis, was not a passive sentiment. It was a laborious, taxing, all-consuming passion. This man poured himself out for the spiritual well being of these believers. Paul wants the Colossians to know the depth of love their man Epaphras has for them. This kind of pastoral heart is a gift from God.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.

The final two greetings come as a pair, and they present a stark and ultimately tragic contrast. First, there is Luke, the author of the third Gospel and the book of Acts. Paul gives him the affectionate title, the beloved physician. Luke was not just Paul's doctor, tending to his many physical ailments; he was a dear and faithful friend, a meticulous historian, and a loyal companion who would be with Paul to the very end. And then there is Demas. Here, he is simply "Demas." He is listed alongside Luke as a fellow worker. In Philemon, he is also called a "fellow laborer." He was, at this time, a trusted member of the team. But this is not the last we hear of him. A few years later, in his final letter, Paul would write the sad epitaph: "for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me" (2 Tim. 4:10). Here in Colossians, he stands as a sober reminder that fellowship with the saints and proximity to a great apostle is no guarantee of final perseverance. The love of the world is a powerful and deadly lure.

Application

This passage, seemingly just a list of names, is packed with application for us. First, it teaches us the immense value of Christian fellowship. We are not meant to be lone-ranger Christians. We need fellow prisoners, fellow workers, and comforters. We need to be the same for others. The Christian life is a team sport, and we should be intentional about building the kind of loyal, encouraging relationships Paul had with these men.

Second, we see the power of gospel restoration in the person of John Mark. The church should be a place where failures are not final. We should be eager to restore those who have stumbled, and to welcome them back into fruitful ministry. Grace means second chances, and third ones too.

Third, Epaphras is a sharp rebuke to our often lazy and self-centered praying. Do we agonize in prayer for our church? Do we wrestle for the spiritual maturity and doctrinal stability of our brothers and sisters? His example calls us to a more fervent, focused, and sacrificial life of intercession. We should labor in prayer for the health of the body.

Finally, the juxtaposition of Luke and Demas is a solemn warning. One was a beloved physician who stayed faithful to the end. The other was a fellow laborer who fell in love with the world. Both were in the same place, hearing the same teaching, serving the same apostle. The difference was the orientation of their hearts. We must constantly examine ourselves and ask: are we growing in our love for Christ and His people, or is the glitter of this present world slowly capturing our affections? The path of Demas is a perpetual danger, and the only safeguard is to cling to Christ, who alone is our life.