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 can teach us much about prayer in his one-sentence summary describing the manner or how (always, laboring, fervently) Epaphras prayed as well as the content or the what (that ye may stand, perfect, and complete, in all the will of God). Each of these elements of the prayers of Epaphras have many counterparts reflected in other parts of the Bible which mention them.
To learn more about prayer, compare Scripture with Scripture by studying the cross references for the next key word of Colossians 4:12, perfect, as I share them below.
The cross references now given for the keyword perfect at Colossians 4:12 are:
perfect. Gr. telios (S# G5046, Mat 5:48). Col 1:22, Col 1:28, Job 36:4, +*Mat 5:48, 1 Cor 14:20 g, 2Co 13:9, 2 Cor 13:11, Eph 4:11, 12, 13, Php 3:12, 13, 14, 15, 1 Th 5:23, Heb 5:14 g, Heb 6:1, Heb 13:21, Jas 1:4; Jas 3:2.
These texts read as follows:
Colossians 1:22
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
King James Version
Colossians 1:28
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
King James Version
Note that to be presented perfect in Christ Jesus requires prior warning and teaching every person in all wisdom. I wish we had access to Paul’s lesson plans! Remember that he took time, sometimes a year and a half, even as long as three years to instruct new believers in the faith. While we do not have Paul’s lesson plans, we do have the Bible where the content of Paul’s lesson plans came from.
Job 36:4
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
King James Version
Matthew 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
King James Version
1 Corinthians 14:20
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
King James Version
2 Corinthians 13:9
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
King James Version
2 Corinthians 13:11
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
King James Version
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
King James Version
Philippians 3:12-15
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
King James Version
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
King James Version
Hebrews 5:14
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
King James Version
Hebrews 6:1
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
King James Version
James 1:4
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
King James Version
James 3:2
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
King James Version
“Perfect” is often used in the sense of mature. That it does not have reference to “sinless perfection” may be seen directly by what James further states about just who is able to control the tongue:
James 3:5
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
King James Version
James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
King James Version
James 3:8
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
King James Version
Therefore, if no man can tame the tongue, then no man is absolutely perfect.
James further tells us:
James 1:26
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
King James Version
Peter instructs us:
1 Peter 4:11
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
King James Version
Each of the above Scripture references is worth studying further. Study the cross references given for each verse above using The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.