Topic
Epaphras
8 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Colossians 1:7Easton · Smith · ISBE · Nave A co-laborer with Paul
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
- Colossians 4:12Easton · Smith · ISBE · Nave A co-laborer with Paul
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.
- Philemon 1:23Easton · ISBE
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
- Philippians 1:1ISBE
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
- Colossians 1:4ISBE
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
- Colossians 1:8Smith
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
- Colossians 4:13ISBE
For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
- Philemon 1:1Nave A co-laborer with Paul
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 3 references
Lovely, spoken of by Paul (Col. 1:7; 4:12) as “his dear fellow-servant,” and “a faithful minister of Christ.” He was thus evidently with him at Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. He was a distinguished disciple, and probably the founder of the Colossian church. He is also mentioned in the Epistle to Philemon (1:23), where he is called by Paul his “fellow-prisoner.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 4 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 7 references
ep'-a-fras (Epaphras):
A contracted form of Epaphroditus. He must not, however, be confounded with the messenger of the Philippian community. He was with Paul during a part of his 1st Roman imprisonment, joining in Paul's greetings to Philemon (Phm 1:23). Epaphras was the missionary by whose instrumentality the Colossians had been converted to Christianity (Col 1:7), and probably the other churches of the Lycus had been founded by him. In sending his salutation to the Colossians Paul testified, "He hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis" (Col 4:13). Epaphras had brought to Paul good news of the progress of the gospel, of their "faith in Christ Jesus" and of their love toward all the saints (Col 1:4). Paul's regard for him is shown by his designating him "our beloved fellow-servant," "a faithful minister of Christ" (Col 1:7), and "a bondservant of Christ Jesus" (Col 4:12 margin) . The last designation Paul uses several times of himself, but only once of another besides Epaphras (Php 1:1).
S. F. Hunter
In the topical indexes
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.