Philemon 1:23-24
23 There salute [aspazomai] thee [se] Epaphras [Epaphras], my [mou] fellowprisoner [sunaichmalotos] in [en] Christ [Christos] Jesus [Iesous];
24 Marcus [Markos], Aristarchus [Aristarchos], Demas [Demas], Lucas [Loukas], my [mou] fellowlabourers [sunergos].
KJV-Interlinear
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner
in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. NASB
Epaphras means
devoted.Aristarchus means best
ruling.Marcus means shining. Demas means popular. Lucas means luminous or white.
There are several similar
names mentioned in the books of Colossians and Philemon, namely:
Colossians:
Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus,
Marcus, Jesus Justus, Epaphras, Lucas, and Demas.
Philemon:
Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus,
Demas, and Lucas.
Colossae was located in
central-south Asia Minor (Greece), just south of Laodicea. Paul passed through Laodicea on his third
journey through this area.
And although Epaphras
and Demas are mentioned in Acts and 2 Tim., as departing from Paul for a time,
they were with him throughout the time he was imprisoned.
Paul was surrounded by
several dedicated individuals throughout his ministry. As indicated by their names, all of these
individuals had varying personalities and skills.
The Christian does not
come in a one-mold-fits-all pattern. If
you can count the stars, then perhaps you can count the different personalities
of Christians.
So, do not think that
you must act in a certain fashion, or follow a certain pattern of life in order
to be a good Christian.And even though
these men (and women as we noted in verse two) were dedicated to Pauls
teaching, they were more dedicated to the scriptures and their pursuit of their
spiritual lives.
Nowhere is it written that
you must wear black, or square hats, or wear a burka,
or walk around looking down all of the time.
In fact, some of the best athletes, scientists, musicians, mountain climbers,
soldiers, moms and dads, etc., fit the Christian pattern quite easily.
The Christian pattern
is what you think.What you think is
what you are.What you look like or what
you do in life is irrelevant.
These people were
dedicated during the time of Pauls travels, during his imprisonment, and after
his death.The circumstances of life
made no difference to their pursuit of doctrine. And that is the way it should be with you.
No matter what crops up
in life, no matter what bruises your ego, no matter what insults your beliefs, should
never interfere with the pursuit of your objective of spiritual maturity.
Your spiritual life is
your single most valuable possession that you will ever have. It presents you before the Lord unblemished
and valuable and worthy of blessing, both now, and for all of eternity.
There is absolutely nothing
else in life that you can do or possess, that will match your spiritual life. And more importantly, your spiritual life is
available to you just as it is available to everyone who has or will ever live.
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