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:
Paul has described the prayers of Epaphras in this single-sentence summary in terms of the how of those prayers: always praying, always laboring, always fervent in his prayers.
More can be learned about those prayers by examining the original Greek language word for prayer that Paul uses here.
in prayers. Gr. proseuche (G4335), Mt +17:21.
Here are the cross references to that Greek word as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (UCRT) completely at Matthew 17:21,
by prayer. Gr. proseukē [*S# G4335: Rendered (1) prayer: Mat 17:21; Mat 21:13; Mat 21:22, Mar 9:29; Mar 11:17, Luk 6:12; Luk 19:46; Luk 22:45, Act 1:14; Act 2:42; Act 3:1; Act 6:4; Act 10:4; Act 10:31; Act 12:5; Act 16:13; Act 16:16, Rom 1:9; Rom 12:12; Rom 15:30, 1Co 7:5, Eph 1:16; Eph 6:18, Php 4:6, Col 4:2; Col 4:12, 1Th 1:2, 1Ti 2:1; 1Ti 5:5, Phm 1:4; Phm 1:22, 1Pe 3:7; 1Pe 4:7, Rev 5:8; Rev 8:3, 4, (2) pray earnestly: Jas 5:17]. T1818 (Prayer necessary to secure certain gifts): *1Ki 17:20; *1Ki 17:21, +**2Ch 7:14, Eze 36:37, *Dan 9:3, Eph 6:18, Jas 5:15.
Paul uses several different Greek words when writing about prayer. Several of these are identified in both The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury at 1 Timothy 2:1 (supplications, Gr. deesis, G1162; prayers, Gr. proseuke, G4335; intercessions, Gr. enteuxis, G1793; giving of thanks, Gr. eucharistia, G2169).
The cross references given for in prayers at Colossians 4:12 are:
in prayers. Act 6:4, +Rom 15:30, 1Th 3:10.
These texts read as follows:
Acts 6:4
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
King James Version
The Apostles delegated some of their work to other responsible individuals so that they could devote themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. It is very easy in church work to become encumbered with so many tasks that our effectiveness is diminished when our limited time is spread too thin. I made it a practice to concentrate on doing what only I could do and letting others do what they could do without my participation.
Romans 15:30
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
King James Version
Paul had his own prayer request which he addressed to Christians at Rome, a church group that he had not yet visited. He earnestly requested that they “strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” that he may be “delivered from them in Judea that do not believe,” that his service for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints, and that Paul may come to see them with joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
King James Version
Paul prays that he might have a successful journey and visit the Thessalonians once again to further help them grow in the faith.
Notice that the things Paul admires in the prayers of Epaphras are the very things Paul practices himself.