Epaphras: A Zealous & Prayerful Minister of Christ

There are uncountable characters in the Bible we can learn from both Old and New Testaments. These were ordinary people who were faithful to God and some also fatally failed in their walk with God. It is our duty to learn from both good and bad characters so that we walk well with the Lord.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that we must learn from the people of old. “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

In the epistles of Paul the Apostle, he never missed to mention names of people whom he prayed for, asked for prayer from, or commended them for what they did.

I want us to study about the life of one of Paul’s associates in the New Testament called Epaphras. In just three places in Paul’s writings, we get to know about him and what He did.

Philemon 23 (NKJV) says,

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.”

Colossians 1:7‭-‬8 (NKJV) says,

“as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.”

Colossians 4:12‭-‬13 (NKJV) said,

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.”

In our character study, we shall look at who he was and what he did:

Who Was Epaphras?

According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Epaphras was said to be,

“A Christian preacher who spread the gospel to his fellow Colossian citizens (Colossians 1:7; 4:12). When Paul was a prisoner in Rome, Epaphras came to him with a favorable account of the church at Colossae. He remained with Paul in Rome and was, in a sense, his “fellow prisoner” (Philemon 23).”

In the manner of who he was, we can learn three major things from the life of Epaphras:

#1. He Was A Servant Of Christ

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 23)

“our dear fellow servant” (Col. 1:7)

“a bondservant of Christ” (Col. 4:12)

The foremost thing we can learn from Epaphras was that he was a bondservant of Jesus Christ. The Holman Christian Standard Bible renders it “slave of Christ” (Col. 4:13).

Being a slave of Christ Jesus defines our Christian life. Paul aptly put it in Galatians 2:20 that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Sam Storms writing about “You Are Not Your Own” (Living As Slaves Of Christ)” said, 

“being a slave of Jesus means that we are altogether loyal to him. What he says is true, is true, because he says it.”

Epaphras was considered by Paul as his fellow prisoner because He was willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. Philippians 1:29 says that “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Epaphras was a servant of His Master Jesus.

#2. He Was An Exemplary Leader

“Epaphras, who is one of you”

“as you also learned from Epaphras” (Col. 4:12)

The second thing we can learn from the life of Epaphras was that he was picked from the local church because of his exemplary lifestyle. As a bondservant of Christ Jesus, his light shone brighter for the other saints in Christ to learn from him.

Honest Christian living which is devoid of hypocrisy attracts people to learn Christ from us. Some people are in Christ but cannot be good examples for other saints. We are called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth for this dying world beginning from the church (Matthew 5:13-16). Epaphras teaches us that our Christian witness must start from the church.

#3. Faithful Minister

“who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.” (Col. 1:7)

The last character trait of Epaphras we can learn from is that he was a faithful minister of the new covenant. As a possible convert of Paul and close associate with the Apostle, Epaphras learnt that what Christ requires of ministers is faithfulness and not popularity or winning awards. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

We live in a time that ministers of the gospel would rather want to be popular than faithful to their Master who called them. Also, as a faithful minister, he reported honestly about the church. Epaphras teaches us that faithfulness is the hallmark of a true minister of the gospel of Christ.

What Did Epaphras Do?

“always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” (Col. 4:12-13)

After studying who Epaphras was, it is fitting that we know about what he did for the church he may have possibly planted in Colossae. There are two main things we can learn in this regard:

#1. He Interceded For The Church

“always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” (Col. 4:12)

The first work of Epaphras we can all learn from is that he learnt to be a great intercessor for the church in Colossae. I am pretty sure that Paul overheard his fervent prayers for the church.

His prayers were intense and consistent. Like Paul, he will always remember the church and the need for grace for them. James 5:16 says that, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Thus, his attitude was to pray fervently for the church.

The content of his prayer was that the church, “may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Jesus praying in the Lord’s Prayer said we must pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Epaphras teaches us to intercede for our church that we shall stand in the perfect will of God.

#2. He Was Zealous For The Churches

“For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” (Col. 4:13)

Lastly, Paul said that Epaphras had a ‘great zeal’ for the churches in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis. It is believed that he may have planted these churches or was helping them to be discipled in Christ.

The Bible described both Jesus (John 2:17) and Phinehas (Numbers 25:11) as having zeal for the cause of God. They were passionate about what God was passionate about. It is not enough to just say you will pray for your church. You must also be involved in serving the church with your time, money and talents. You must co-labour to build the house of God. Epaphras teaches us that we must have zeal for our local assembly and the body of Christ.

Epaphras is not well known like Apostle Paul in the Bible but he did his part to build the churches he interfaced with. Many of us find ourselves serving in minor roles in the church and sometimes get discouraged for not being recognised. But knowing about Epaphras’ life of being a slave of Christ, faithful minister and labouring for the church will urge you on in wherever you serve. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:14 that our work will be rewarded. ”If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”

May the Lord kindle a fire of His work in our lives.

Share with me what you have learnt. I will be glad to read it.