The Nugget:
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
My Comment:
We can learn still more about prayer from Paul by studying Paul’s single sentence description of the prayer ministry of Epaphras.
Notice, second of all, Epaphras laboured fervently in prayers for the Colossians.
To explore this aspect of the prayers of Epaphras, study the cross references given for laboured in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury from which I share my newly corrected and further expanded set of cross references below:
labouring. or, striving. *+Col 1:29; Col 2:1, Gen 32:24, Luk 10:2, Rom 16:12, +*2 Cor 11:28, Gal 4:19, 1Th 3:5.
These texts read as follows:
Colossians 1:29
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
King James Version
Colossians 1:29 can be more fully understood when read in the light of the preceding verses:
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Paul is concerned that each believer should be grounded in the faith, that every believer continue in the faith, and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel. Paul warns every man, and teaches every man in all wisdom that every person may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. These things are the focus of Paul’s labor.
Colossians 2:1
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
King James Version
Paul again expresses his great concern for the spiritual welfare of the Colossians.
Genesis 32:24
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
King James Version
Striving in prayer is pictured for us in the striving for blessing exercised by Jacob in this account in Genesis.
Luke 10:2
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
King James Version
Jesus spoke of the scarcity of laborers to reap the harvest, and commanded to pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.
Romans 16:12
12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
King James Version
Paul requested Christians at Rome to salute and thus receive (Romans 15:7) Tryphena and Tryphosa, two women who labor in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 11:28
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
King James Version
Paul in his labors for Christ was burdened daily by the care of all the churches. A crucial factor in demonstrating care is taking time to listen. Paul was a good listener and responded to the questions and concerns of the churches and individuals who were part of those churches. This is a necessary skill still needed today.
Galatians 4:19
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
King James Version
Paul describes his labor and care by employing the figure of “travail in birth” until these believers reflect the character of Christ in their lives.
1 Thessalonians 3:5
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
King James Version
Paul was most concerned that his labor not be in vain. He kept in contact with his converts and churches to know their faith.