Colossesi 4:12

12 (G4-11) Epafra, che è de’ vostri, servo di Cristo, vi saluta; combattendo sempre per voi nelle orazioni, acciocchè stiate fermi, perfetti, e compiuti in tutta la volontà di Dio.

Colossesi 4:12 Meaning and Commentary

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you
A native of Colosse, and one of their faithful ministers; see ( Colossians 1:7 ) .

A servant of Christ;
not merely in the same sense as every believer is, but as he was a preacher of the Gospel, in which he faithfully served his Lord and master, Christ:

saluteth you;
sends his Christian respects to you, for whom he bore a sincere love and hearty affection, as appears by what follows:

always labouring fervently for you in prayers;
in all his prayers, which were many and frequent, he never forgot his dear flock at Colosse, of which he was pastor, but strove with God for them, even to an agony, as the word signifies; he wrestled with the Lord as Jacob did, nor, as he, would he let him go without a blessing for this church; he was incessant, importunate, and fervent in prayer for them: and what he prayed in particular for them was,

that ye may stand perfect;
in Christ Jesus their head, and in his spotless righteousness; see ( Colossians 1:28 ) ( 2:10 ) and continue believing in him, and looking to him for righteousness and strength, in whom all the fulness, the perfection of grace dwells; and where the saints only are, and can continue to be perfect:

and complete in all the will of God;
or "be filled" in it, have a perfect knowledge of the revealed will of God, both as to doctrine and practice, and be enabled to act according to it.

Colossesi 4:12 In-Context

10 (G4-9) Aristarco, prigione meco, vi saluta; così ancora Marco, il cugino di Barnaba; intorno al quale avete ricevuto ordine; se viene a voi, accoglietelo.
11 (G4-10) E Gesù, detto Giusto, i quali son della circoncisione; questi soli son gli operai nell’opera del regno di Dio, i quali mi sono stati di conforto.
12 (G4-11) Epafra, che è de’ vostri, servo di Cristo, vi saluta; combattendo sempre per voi nelle orazioni, acciocchè stiate fermi, perfetti, e compiuti in tutta la volontà di Dio.
13 (G4-12) Perciocchè io gli rendo testimonianza, ch’egli ha un gran zelo per voi, e per quelli che sono in Laodicea, e per quelli che sono in Ierapoli.
14 (G4-13) Il diletto Luca, il medico, e Dema, vi salutano.
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