Colossians 4:7-18

Commendations and Salutations.

Colossians 4:7. Tychicus: cf. Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12.

Colossians 4:9. Onesimus: there is a touch of gentle humour in this reference to the returning runaway, both in what it says, and in what it omits.

Colossians 4:10. Aristarchus: cf. Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2; Philemon 1:24. Mark: the John Mark of Ac. (Acts 13:5; Acts 13:13; Acts 15:36), and the author of the second gospel. A reconciliation must have taken place between him and Paul (cf. 2 Timothy 4:11).

Colossians 4:11. Jesus: otherwise unknown. who are of the circumcision: Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus Justus are the only Jewish Christians who have worked with Paul in Rome.

Colossians 4:12. Epaphras: cf. Colossians 4:17.

Colossians 4:14. Luke: the author of the third gospel and Ac. Demas: for his subsequent defection see 2 Timothy 4:10.

Colossians 4:15. Nymphas: owner apparently of a house where the Christians met at Laodicea. The name may be either masculine or feminine; some MSS read, the church that is in her house.

Colossians 4:17. Archippus: cf. Philemon 1:2; nothing else is known of him. He seems to have been charged with some special ministerial work at Colossæ.

Colossians 4:18. Paul adds his signature (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 16:21), the rest of the letter being written by a scribe.