“Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.”-Colossians 4:12-13

Names like Noah, Moses, David, Paul, Peter, Mary, and obviously Jesus, readily come to mind when we think of well-known, impactful people listed in the Scriptures. Rightly so. These people are connected to stories of God working powerfully through each one of them. But one unsung hero in the Bible, one man we don’t readily think of, is Epaphras. Truthfully, even for long time Christians, Epaphras doesn’t quickly come to mind. Yet Paul went out of his way to mention this name, this man of God, and a particularly powerful way that Epaphras served the Lord and His people. Who was Epahphras, and what did he do? Why did Paul intentionally describe him?

Epaphras is only referred to three times in the Bible, and each time it's brief. He obvioulsy didn’t get a lot of “air-time”. Nonetheless, when he is referenced, it is in very complimentary ways. For example, in Colossians 1:7 we read, “You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.” In Philemon 1:23, Paul wrote, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.” Finally, Paul brought up Epaphras in Colossians 4:12-13. In this passage we learn the most about who Epaphras was. Clearly he was a man who was a servant of Jesus, he was beloved by Paul, and he was zealous about praying for others. Prayer was so important to Epaphras, so valuable to him, that Paul mentioned twice how Epaphras diligently prayed for God’s people. Let’s reread some of Colossians 4:12-13 which says, “…He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect…he prays hard for you and also for the believers…” I can’t help but wonder if and how God may have used Epaphras to spur on Paul to write things like, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” (Colossians 4:2), and, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18).

What we know without a doubt is that Epaphras was a good man, a passionately persistent prayerful person, whom God used to make a difference. His example stood out to the Apostle Paul, thus Paul commended him, and in turn Epaphras ended up in the Bible as a model to motivate each of us. So, might his life propel us forward! In what ways? We don’t have to be well known, have exceptional gifts, or exude a lot of charisma to honor God and help His people. What each of us can do, and what every follower of Christ should do, is grow in intercessory prayer! We can pray as Epaphras did —wrestling in prayer, laboring in prayer, that others might know God, grow in God, and be all God intends for them to be. We can all work hard in prayer, asking God to do what only He can to save, transform, intercede, provide for, and guide others.

We don’t know much about Epaphras, but what we do know about him is inspiring! He was a man of prayer who begged God to help others. Paul was also led by God to pray often. And he was compelled by God to instruct other believers: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them” (1 Timothy 2:1). Let’s pray for others in Jesus’ name. It matters.

Cheer up, friends!

~Scott