EXAMPLES OF

SERVANTS

Bible Teacher Pastor Leon Emmanuel

Examples of Servants

• As Paul finishes his letter to the Colossian brethren he mentions several people.

• We have a tendency to read over these without much notice

• I believe we can learn from these examples of servants.

Paul

• Col 4:3, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

• In Prison, in chains.• More concerned with others• Constant pray for the churches.

Tychicus

• Col 4:7-8, “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.”

Tychicus

• Mentioned 5 times in the NT• From Asia (Acts 20:4)• Paul’s friend• Trusted companion• Accompanied Paul to Jerusalem after 3rd

Missionary journey. Taking contribution to Jerusalem brethren.

Tychicus

• Sent to Ephesus, Colosse, Philemon with letter from Paul Eph. 6:21-22, Col 4:3

• He was sent to help with the work on Crete and in Ephesus. 2 Tim 4:12, Titus 3:12

• Beloved Brother• Faithful minister, fellow-servant• Possible 2 Cor 8:22-23: Proved; messenger, an

honor to Christ.

Onesimus

• Col 4:9, “He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”

• Escaped slave• Converted to Christ; Paul- my child (Phil.

1:10)• Willing to return to Colosse. • Had been very helpful to Paul.• Courage to go back

Aristarchus

• Col 4:10, “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.).

• In Ephesus, he was seized by the silversmiths (Acts 19:29)

• From Thessalonica (Acts 20:4)• Travel with Paul through Macedonia and the

accompanied him to Jerusalem and then to Rome.• My fellow-prisoner.• Tradition says he was martyred during Nero’s

persecution.

Mark

• Col 4:10, “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Mark• Possibly young man who saw Jesus betrayed (Mk 14:51-52) (ad 30)• Mother was Mary. House where early Christians met. (Acts 12:12)• Paul and Barnabas took him on 1st Missionary Journey (ad 45)• Gave up at Perga and went home (ad 47)

• Paul and Barnabus had a heat disagreement about Mark (Acts 13:5) (ad 49)• Don’t hear about Mark until this passage in Col 4:10 about 10 years later (ad

60)• Fellow-labor (Philem 24)• Paul asks Timothy to send Mark in ad 66.• He is useful to me for ministry (2 Tim 4:11)

• Peter calls Mark “my son” 1 Peter 5:13• Clement wrote that Mark server as Peter interpreter in Rome. Also added he

was “stumpy fingered”• Eusebius wrote that was the Mark first evangelist to Egypt and founded the

church in Alexandria. So great were his converts, both in number and sincerity of commitment that even the Jewish philosopher, Philo, was amazed.

Justus

• Col 4:11, “Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.”

• Fellow worker• Comfort

Epaphras

• Col 4:12-13, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.”• Missionary who help start the church in Colosse. (Col. 1:7)

• Beloved fellow servant

• Faithful minister of Christ

• Labored for you in prayer

Luke

• Col 4:14, “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”

• Traveled with Paul. • Wrote Luke and Acts.• Doctor• “Only Luke is with me.” 2 Timothy 4:22

Demas

• Col 4:14, “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”

• It would be nice to think that all of these servants were faith until the end, but six years later…

• “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world,” (2 Timothy 4:10)

Nympha

• Col 4:15, “Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.”

• Christian lady who offered her home for the church.

Archippus

• Col 4:17, “Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.””

• Mentioned again in Phil 1:2• Tradition say he was one of the 70 sent out by

Jesus (Luke 10), and elder at Laodicea and was later martyred.

Paul

Epaphrus1:7; 4:12

Tychicus4:7

Onesimus4:9

Aristarchus4:10

Mark4:10Jesus Justus

4:11

Demas4:14

Luke4:14

Nympha4:15

Archippus4:17

Important People for Us

• Three of the people mentioned here Paul, Mark and Luke

• Wrote 65 % of the NT as we have it today.• Over half of everything we know about Jesus

and the early church we comes from these inspired men.

• They all sat in the prison in Rome together.

These Servants

• Trustworthy• Fellow-servants• Fellow-ministers• Proclaimers of the gospel• Prayerful• Hard Workers• Patient

• Encouragers• Teachers• Faithful to the Kingdom• Comfort• Assurance• Maturity• Loving