21 June 2026

The Example of Epaphras, Part 1 (TMF:2905)

Friday, June 26, 2026

Peace to Live By: The Example of Epaphras, Part 1 (TMF:2905) - Daniel Litton
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Starting in verse 12 of Colossians chapter 4: ‘Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (ESV). Back in chapter 1 of Colossians, we read the following about Epaphras: “He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit” (1:7-8, ESV). So, today, we learn that Epaphras is physically with Paul in Rome, as Paul of course is in prison while he is writing this letter to the church at Colossae. Paul heaps even more praise on Epaphras than what he already has—in saying that he is a “faithful minister of Christ.” Undoubtedly, Paul had to be greatly encouraged to receive as a visitor someone who was representing the body in Colossae, and not only that, the actual likely founder of that church.

Paul Brings Up His Jewish Brothers (TMF:2904)

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Peace to Live By: Paul Brings Up His Jewish Brothers (TMF:2904) - Daniel Litton
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Now, Jesus who is called Justus—he is named along with Aristarchus and Mark as the only Jewish men who were currently working him for the sake of the spreading the Gospel along. Thus, Paul had other workers, which were Gentiles workers, but these were the only three Jewish guys, at least, at the time of his writing of Colossians. He probably comments, “they have been a comfort to me” because they shared this same kind of background that Paul himself had—that of being a Jew. The way Paul says it, that these were “the only men of the circumcision among [his] fellow workers” shows that Paul had more success in working with the Gentiles versus the Jews. Of course, he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but we remember what he remarked to the Roman believers, who were Gentiles themselves, concerning his fellow kinsmen in the flesh. There, he said, “Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (10:1, ESV). Paul always had his mind on his people, and yet interestingly, God had called him to go to the Gentiles.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 3 (TMF:2903)

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 3 (TMF:2903) - Daniel Litton
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Yet, Paul hadn’t approved of John Mark all along. This obviously raises some questions, and they are questions that we really cannot answer. But it goes to show that by this time in Paul’s writing to the Colossians that he was willing to correct within himself whatever incorrect behavior had taken place of his part, or incorrect assumptions regarding Mark. It shows that Paul himself wasn’t hardly perfect, and he wasn’t always correct in his own, personal deductions concerning things. No matter how highly we might think of him, he was a human. He was a Christian with flaws, and a Christian who had to correct himself at times. Now, Jesus who is called Justus we really don’t know anything about. Anything that could be remarked here would be mere speculation. Perhaps he took the name Justus because he did feel worthy to be called Jesus, or felt funny about it. Nonetheless, we do know what Paul states in the verse in that he was a Jewish man who had converted to Christianity.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 2 (TMF:2902)

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 2 (TMF:2902) - Daniel Litton
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Nonetheless, by the time Paul is writing to the Colossians, he mentions to them referring to Mark, “concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him.” This verse looks to insinuate that perhaps in the past Paul had surprisingly spoken bad about Mark to the church in Colossae, in some way, shape, or form, or perhaps word had spread from other churches. Anyhow, Paul apparently has to correct himself because he now says Mark is to be welcomed which implies there was a point in time where he wasn’t to be welcomed. Pretty unsettling this becomes considering the fact that Barnabas himself had approved of Mark all along. Yet, Paul hadn’t approved of John Mark all along. This obviously raises some questions, and they are questions that we really cannot answer. But it goes to show that by this time in Paul’s writing to the Colossians that he was willing to correct within himself whatever incorrect behavior had taken place of his part, or incorrect assumptions regarding Mark.

Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 1 (TMF:2901)

Monday, June 22, 2026

Peace to Live By: Paul's Potential Pride Problem, Part 1 (TMF:2901) - Daniel Litton
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Yet the Scripture tells us they weren’t. They ended up separating into different directions. And third, we could note that perhaps Paul suffered from a pride issue, and this is the manifestation of that. We can recall what Paul told the Corinthians in his second letter to them: “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9, ESV). It seems that perhaps Paul struggled with pride, and this instance in his disagreement with Barnabas was a manifestation of that.