Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 4:12

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 .

After he had given them the good wishes of some of the Iews; he doth here give the like from some of the Gentiles, beginning with Epaphras, whom he had before commended, ch. 1.7, 8. and doth here recommend him as born and bred amongst them, devoted to their service, in being the Servant of Christ, as▪ Paul separated to the Preaching of the Gospel, Rom. 1.1. yea a Fellow-prisoner with the Apostle upon that account, Philem. v. 23.

And as it became such an one faithfull in his office, not diverted by distance of place, or length of time, was night and day contending zealously with prayers to God for their spiritual, temporal and eternal welfare, as Rom. 15.30.

that they might attain a sufficient perfection in all that which God would have them reach to, see on ch. 1.28, 29. Phil. 3.15. The distance 'twixt Coloss and Philippi, &c. render it improbable, whatever a learned Man conceits, that Epaphras should be the same with Epaphroditus.

Marginal references: Or, striving.; Or, filled.