Introduction to Colossians: Authorship, Date, Audience - Crain Home

Interpretation 1
Colossian believers, and "this comment at the thanksgiving's vertex to help
secure his reputation as an exemplary believer."
First, church tradition asserts that the Epaphras who shared
Paul's prison cell according to Philemon 23 is the same
Epaphras Paul mentions in Colossians. While the references
to Epaphras in Colossians do not suggest that he is in prison,
Philemon, which was written before Colossians, could refer
to an earlier imprisonment. Epaphras's past imprisonment
could well have resulted in a prolonged absence from
Colosse, during which time others (including theological
opponents) could have taken charge of the congregation's
spiritual nurture. Now that he is able to return to his former
ministry, Paul's prayer recalls the importance of Epaphras's
earlier ministry to reestablish him in this congregation.
A second and more important clue comes from Colossians
4:12-13, where Paul vouches for Epaphras's commitment to
the Colossian congregation. Why would Paul sense a need to
vouch for Epaphras and to stress the close tie the two men
share in the Gentile mission? Masson has suggested that Paul
wants to overturn Epaphras's reputation for incompetence,
and even laziness, which has helped the false teachers
succeed (1950:156). While this speculation seems strained to
me, it is true that Paul is concerned with Epaphras's
reputation. I suspect Paul is concerned because the truth of
Epaphras's teaching, which had converted the readers to
Christ, is now jeopardized. In this sense, Paul's letter defines
and defends the content of Epaphras's teaching and witness.
http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/webcommentary
In Philemon 23, Epaphras is identified as a fellow prisoner: Phi 1:23 There
salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Darby points to the fact that the Colossians are sitting on earth:
http://crain.english.mwsc.edu/colossians/interpretation_1.htm (10 of 20)6/17/2003 8:17:40 AM
But let us consider more closely that which is said to the
Colossians. The blessed calling of which the apostle speaks
(Eph. 1:3-10), and the privileges of the inheritance (11-14),
are wanting in Colossians; risen but on earth, they are not
sitting in heavenly places, all things being thus their
inheritance. It is not they in Christ there, but Christ in them