Colossians 1:7-8

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." (Colossians 1:7 , Colossians 1:8 .)

Everywhere Paul magnifies his fellow-labourers. Epaphras is thus lifted up into eminence, which otherwise he would not have secured. It belongs to the great man to identify his workers, and to mete out to them tributes of praise and positions of distinction. Here, as ever, Paul does not praise intellectual brilliance of mental grasp, or anything that is merely adventitious; he praises Epaphras because he is "a faithful minister of Christ." And, indeed, Epaphras is only reaping what he had himself sown. It appears that Epaphras had declared unto Paul the love in the Spirit which was enjoyed by the Colossian Christians. How he must have praised that love! how eagerly he must have dwelt upon it! and how the countenance of the Apostle Paul must have glowed as he heard what wonders and miracles were being wrought afar by the power of the Holy Ghost!