Colossians 1:3-8 The report of  Epaphras                    

The Preeminent One and the fear of the Lord

·       Fear of the Lord is being awestruck at who God is; the Omniscient One, the Omnipresent One and the Omnipotent One.

·       Acts 9:31 is the only N.T. verse with “the fear of the Lord”. A close for the church is 1Peter 3:15. Note 2Cor 7:1; Eph 5:21

·       Rev 14:7; 15:4 All on the earth shall FEAR Him when judgments are made manifest.

·       The fear the Lord Christians have is much different that the fear of the Lord the lost should have.

Ch 1:3-8 The report made by Epaphras: From V7 and Philemon 23 it seems Epaphras was at one time the pastor of the church in the house of Philemon, in Colosse. It was likely that he was a prison at the time Paul wrote the letter to Philemon interceding for Onesimus. Once released, he went to Rome with Onesimus to report on the church in Colosse.

·       V3-4 Paul did not establish the church in Philemon’s house, but when he heard that there was a group of people who had placed their faith in Christ he immediately began to pray for them.

v   V4b Paul also prayed for them because he heard of the love they had for all saints (Phm 5,7) (John 13:34-35, 15:12)

·       V5-7 They heard of the hope which is laid up in heaven for them through hearing and responding to the gospel. This is what Epaphras preached in the church in the house of Philemon.

v   Rom 8:19; Phil 1:20, Hope: Earnest Expectation

v   Our hope: Titus 1:2, 3:4-7 Eternal Life

v   Our hope: 1John 3:1-3 We shall be like Jesus

v   Our hope: Eph 1:11,17-18 our inheritance in the saints, 1Thes 2:19 The knowledge of Christ, His glory, His kingdom (Col 1:13)

·       V6a (Rom 12:3) What is that which is came unto them as it is in all the world?: the gospel

v   Rom 1:19-20 The knowledge of God is made manifest of made clear in every man. The proof is in His creation. Man should find hope in His creation. [Acts 2:5; 19:10]

·       V6b the day ye heard of it (the gospel), and knew the grace of God in truth (obeyed the gospel):

v   The hope spoken of is only in those who know the grace of God in truth through obeying the gospel.

v   Eph 1:11-12 The key that unlocks the hope laid up in heaven for all men is knowing the grace of God in truth through first trusting in Christ (in truth)

·       V7 Epaphras faithfully proclaimed the hope that was laid up in heaven through the believing the gospel to the saints in Colosse.

·       Their faith in Christ, their love for all saints, and their bringing  forth fruit was declared to Paul by Epaphras.

v   The “eth” at the end of bring in V6 showed that they were continuing to bring forth fruit.

·       V8 Epaphras declared their love in the Spirit.

What comfort and joy this report made by Epaphras brought to Paul.

The proof of what he told Paul was that Onesimus was with Epaphras and was could be called “one of you” (V4:9)

·       Philemon 21 The confidence Paul had in Philemon was not in vain.

·       Note Paul did not declare his apostleship in his letter to Philemon. He made a personal request [Phm 10]. Philemon was given an option by Paul. When Paul declared his apostleship at the beginning of Colossians he was demanding that his words be obeyed; no option is given.

After Epaphras report to Paul, Paul could have made the same statement that John made in 3John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”