Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
Summary: Comparing the two names in this verse leads us to an interesting study of Paul’s companions.
Luke and Demas are an interesting pair. One we know well, the other is obscure.
Let’s begin with Luke.
Continue reading “Colossians 4:14 – Bookends”
I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Summary: This passage invites us to indulge in the heart of meditation: Imagining what is possible.
This passage is a bit of a puzzle.
Paul is vouching for Epaphras’s work. Unfortunately, all we know for certain is that he is “working hard” and that the work is “for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.”
Continue reading “Colossians 4:13 – Faith in Action”
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.
Summary: Epaphras’s prayer is a wonderful model of what to pray for ourselves and each other.
In this passage, we learn a bit more about Epaphras.* Paul says he is “one of you” which I take to mean he is originally from Colossae. Somewhere along the line, Epaphras must have met up with Paul because Paul explains that Epaphras brought the Gospel to Colossae “on our behalf.”
Continue reading “Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras’s Prayer”An Easter Edition of Three Minute Bible is available. Unfortunately, we appear to be having technical issues with our email distribution. If you get this email and would like to read the Easter Edition “Three Days Dead,” please visit threeminutebible.com directly.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning… They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Summary: This mediation is a bit longer than normal. It is a look back at Jesus’ time in the tomb. Many more details could be covered, but I thought it worthwhile to look back at what happened as we ponder the mystery of a God who became man and the Son of Man who became a sacrifice for our sin.
Our modern calendar still counts Sunday as the “first day of the week,” but what has changed from Jesus’ day is how we count the start of the day. Genesis records the first “day” beginning in the evening (Genesis 1:5), so for Jews, their Sunday begins at sundown on Saturday.
Continue reading “Luke 24: 1-3 – Three Days Dead”
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
Summary: Paul’s comment about being comforted by his Jewish companions leads us to consider “Why?”
No matter what you might think of Paul, the objective facts of his life tell a story. Paul is a man of deep passion. In the first half of his life as a Pharisee, Paul is so passionate about eradicating believers from the face of the earth that he chases them all over the Middle East.
How many Pharisees bothered to do that? Did any Sadducees mount expeditions to pursue early Christians?
Continue reading “Colossians 4:11 – Three Jews”
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.)
Summary: This verse provides a peek at life in Paul’s day and the people around him.
At some point, after reading the Bible enough times, a person begins to see things differently. Take Aristarchus, for example.
Paul casually mentions “my fellow prisoner,” Aristarchus. Instantly, questions come to mind: Who is Aristarchus? Why is he in prison with Paul? Where is he from?
Continue reading “Colossians 4:10 – Paul’s Time”
He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
Summary: This passage introduces us to the subject of another letter Paul wrote which we know as “Philemon.” In the letter, we learn about Onesimus and his very interesting life story.
Obviously, traveling alone on foot over one thousand miles is not on the Triple AAA list of “Top Ten Safe Vacations.” Paul himself talks about fighting off “wild beasts” when he was in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:32). He also mentions the dangers of traveling by sea (shipwrecks!), not to mention crossing rivers and dealing with roving bandits (2 Corinthians 11:26).
It took courage in those days to venture out, and if we knew nothing else about Tychicus other than he was willing to travel the world to carry a message to a distant church, we would know he was brave. But he didn’t go alone. Onesimus traveled with him.
Continue reading “Colossians 4:9 – Redemption”
I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
Summary: Paul is sending Tychicus on a mission. It is both exciting and challenging. More than carrying a letter for Paul, Tychicus is the letter.
Imagine the world Paul and Tychicus lived in!
In our world, we have phones, FaceTime, texts, mail, cars, buses, and airplanes. If you need to talk with someone who is a thousand miles away there are a lot of options.
Continue reading “Colossians 4:8 – Tychicus’ Journey”
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
Summary: Paul mentions one of the men who will carry this letter to Colossae. His name is Tychicus.
I looked up how to pronounce Tychicus’s name, and I wish I hadn’t. I had imagined that it was a name that sounded cool, and now I found out that it is completely the opposite.
According to my source,* the real pronunciation sounds like someone saying “too” and then making a sound like coughing up a hairball, then “key,” and finally, “toss” only with a “k” instead of a “t.” (If you are serious about this kind of thing, the phonetic pronunciation is “too-khee-kos’.”)
Continue reading “Colossians 4:7 – Paul’s Friend”