You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.
Parallel translations
- WEB even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
- KJV As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
- BSB You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
- ESV just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
- NKJV as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
- NASB just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They learned the gospel from Epaphras, a faithful minister whom Paul commends. Sound teaching comes through trustworthy servants of Christ.
Overview
Epaphras, likely the founder of the Colossian church, is called Paul's 'beloved fellow servant' and 'a faithful servant of Christ.' By endorsing Epaphras, Paul confirms that the Colossians received the true gospel. The verse highlights how Christ ordinarily builds His church through faithful human messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
- Phlm 1:23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
- Heb 2:17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- Col 4:7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
- Phil 2:25But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need;
- 2 Tim 2:2The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
- 1 Cor 4:2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
- Heb 3:2who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
- 2 Cor 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.
- Matt 25:21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- 1 Cor 4:17Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
- Num 12:7My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
- 1 Cor 7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
- Eph 5:21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
- Phil 2:19–22But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
- 1 Tim 4:6If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.
- Matt 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
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Christ at the center
The image of the invisible God, firstborn over creation, in whom all things hold together and all the fullness of God dwells bodily — supreme over every power.
How Colossians 1:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.