We live in a celebrity crazed culture! America is obsessed with the lives of famous people! People want to know everything from who Jennifer Aniston is dating and who Charlie Sheen is divorcing to when Lil’ Wayne is getting out of prison and who got voted off “Dancing with the Stars” this week. This is why television shows like “Entertainment Tonight”, “Access Hollywood”, and “TMZ” are so popular. This is also why so many people read “People Magazine” and “Sports Illustrated.”
“Time” film critic Richard Schickel says celebrities have become “the chief agents of moral change in America.” Why? Because celebrities are so moral? No! Simply because they are big names, and we listen to them! This is why political candidates want “big name” endorsements! And just in case you haven’t heard, this week both Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin endorsed me to continue as pastor of this church!
Unfortunately, many Christians fall into this same trap. We have the tendency to make super saints of biblical characters and believe that God’s work is only accomplished through the “big names” with highly visible gifts. But God uses this final section of the book of Colossians to remind us that “no names” are just as important as “big names.”
Obviously, the Apostle Paul is one of the biggest names in the Bible. God used him to expand the church in incredible ways, but he could not have accomplished what he did by himself. He knew that he would need a lot of help. He was not some egotistical self-sufficient Lone Ranger missionary who thought he could do everything by himself, but he relied on a diverse network of friends. Without the support of these ministry partners, he never would have succeeded in advancing the gospel across national barriers.
Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians by offering praise and final instructions to ten different people—most of these names you have never heard of before. These “no names” compose a diverse cast of characters. They came from different ethnic, social, economic, educational, religious, and geographical backgrounds, but they all played significant roles in the early church. They were just ordinary Christians who were willing to use their gifts to partner with Paul and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me introduce you to these “no names.”
1.) Tychicus- The Trustworthy Assistant (7-8)
Tychicus was what we might call Paul’s “trusted assistant.” He was a native of the province of Asia and probably joined Paul when he was returning to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey. Paul bestows upon him the highest praise that a Christian could receive with the adjectives “a dear brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord.” He was a loyal and trustworthy friend who was willing to do whatever Paul asked him to do.
Paul gave him the important task of delivering this very letter from Rome all the way to Colosse and report Paul’s condition to church. It is very probable that he delivered Paul’s letter to Ephesians and Philemon at the same time. What an incredible responsibility to carry three of the original books of the Bible across hostile terrain? While Paul was in prison, he needed a trustworthy assistant to accomplish God’s work on the outside.
Most of you have never heard the name Tychicus before! He is certainly not a “big name” in biblical history, but God used him to accomplish an extremely important mission. God isn’t impressed by big names, he is impressed with trustworthiness! How trustworthy are you?
2.) Onesimus- A Redeemed Fugitive (9)
Onesimus was a slave who, after robbing his master, Philemon, at Colosse, he fled to Rome, where he was converted by the apostle Paul. Now Paul was sending him back to Philemon with the epistle which bears his name. In it he beseeches Philemon to receive his slave as a “faithful and beloved brother.”
Paul offered to pay Philemon anything his slave had taken, and to bear the wrong he had done him. He was accompanied on his return by Tychicus, the bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians. The story of this fugitive Colossian slave is a remarkable evidence of the freedom of access to the prisoner which was granted to all, and “a beautiful illustration both of the character of Paul and the transfiguring power and righteous principles of the gospel.”
Again, Onesimus isn’t a household Christian name, but God did amazing things in and through his life. Onesimus is evidence that if God can redeem a runaway fugitive, he can redeem anyone. How many of us have ever committed a crime before? That is right, all of us! Many of us just never got caught. God takes hardened criminals and turns them into “faithful and dear brothers and sisters.”
3.) Aristarchus- A Devoted Companion (10)
Aristarchus was a Macedonian from the city of Thessalonica and was one of Paul’s traveling companions. When Paul was in Ephesus, Aristarchus was arrested with him when the riot broke out because of Paul’s preaching of Jesus (Acts 19:29). The two were also together on Paul’s voyage to Rome (Acts 27:1-2) and he was still suffering with Paul in prison. Paul conveyed greetings from Aristarchus in the Epistle to the Colossians (Col 4:10) and in his letter to Philemon (Philem. 24). Both the Acts and the Epistles show Aristarchus as a devoted and valued associate of Paul. Tradition has it that he was martyred in Rome in the time of the Emperor Nero.
How many of you have ever heard of Aristarchus before? Most of us can’t even pronounce it! God is not interested in celebrity status; he is interested in true devotion. How many of us would be willing to do what Aristarchus did?
4.) Mark- A Reconciled Deserter (10)
Mark is more familiar to us because he wrote one of the four gospels about Jesus. He was the son of Mary, a woman apparently of some means and influence, and was probably born in Jerusalem, where his mother resided. He was cousin of Barnabas. He went with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey (about A.D. 47) as their “minister,” but from some cause turned back when they reached Perga in Pamphylia. Three years later, a “sharp contention” arose between Paul and Barnabas because Paul would not take Mark with him. Sometime later, however, he was reconciled to Paul and was with him in his imprisonment at Rome.
Mark is another example of God’s grace to sinners. He used this former dropout from the ministry to write one of the four gospels. God is indeed a God of second chances!
5.) Justus- A Comforting Friend (11)
Justus, who also bore the Jewish name Jesus, was a Christian and one of Paul’s only fellow-laborers and comforters at Rome. This is the only time he is mentioned in Scripture and the only information we have about him, but we know he was there for Paul.
Justus is an important model for us today. We don’t have to be rich, famous, or even talented to be a comforting friend. All we need to do is be there! Do you have friend who is always there when you need him or her? Are you the kind of friend who is there when someone needs you?
6.) Epaphras- A Prayer Warrior (12-13)
Paul calls Epaphras “his dear fellow-servant,” and “a faithful minister of Christ.” He was 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 (Philem. 1:23) where he is called by Paul his “fellow-prisoner.” Paul mentions that Epaphras “is always wrestling in prayer for you,” making him what we might call a prayer warrior.
The name Epaphras is seemingly insignificant in the New Testament, but do you think there would have been a church in Colosse, Laodicea, or Heirapolis if it hadn’t been for Epaphras’ prayers? I don’t think so either! Again you don’t have to be talented to be a prayer warrior. All it takes is faith and diligence! Prayer warriors seldom make celebrity status, but they sure do change the world!
7.) Luke- A Good Doctor (14)
Luke, along with Mark, is the other person in this whose name you may recognize because he also wrote one of the four gospels about Jesus and also the book of Acts. The date and circumstances of his conversion are unknown. It is probable that he was a physician in Troas, and was there converted by Paul, to whom he attached himself. He accompanied him to Philippi, but did not there share his imprisonment.
On Paul’s third visit to Philippi we again meet with Luke, who probably had spent all the intervening time in that city, a period of seven or eight years. From this time Luke was Paul’s constant companion during his journey to Jerusalem. He again disappears from view during Paul’s imprisonment at Jerusalem and Caesarea, and only reappears when Paul sets out for Rome and where he remains with him through his imprisonment. The last notice of the “beloved physician” is in II Tim. 4:11. There are many passages in Paul’s epistles, as well as in the writings of Luke, which show the extent and accuracy of his medical knowledge.
Luke is an example of an educated, talented, upper-class individual who was willing to give up worldly prestige to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. And in so doing, God used him to write more of the New Testament than any other individual author. This shows that God uses people from all different backgrounds!
8.) Demus- A Hidden Traitor (14)
Demus was a companion and fellow-laborer of Paul during his imprisonment at Rome, II Timothy 4:10 reveals that sometime after this, his love of the world mastered him, and he deserted the apostle. Demus was to Paul what Judas Iscariot was to Jesus.
Demus reveals the dark side of discipleship. Unfortunately, there will always be people who abandon the faith because they love the things of the world more. I have been disappointed by many Demus’ in my life and ministry—men and women who started out so well in the faith and showed so much promise in the church, but some other passion got in the way.
How about you? Do you know any Demus’? I hope and pray that none of us will have the same fate as him!
9.) Nympha- A Hospitable Hostess (15)
Nympha was a Christian hostess of a house church, likely in Laodicea. There is considerable scholarly debate over the gender of this individual because the name occurs only in the accusative case, and it is not possible to determine whether it is masculine or feminine. Modern translations follow the best Greek manuscripts in reading “her house” and using the feminine name Nympha. She was perhaps a wealthy widow who used her home and resources to support the church. This is the only place in the Bible where she is mentioned and the reason why Paul singles her out here is impossible to know.
Nympha is the epitome of God’s love for “no names!” There is great divine humor in the fact that we are not even sure of this person’s gender. The only thing we know for sure is that she was a hospitable hostess. She just opened her home to other Christians and used her resources in whatever way she could to advance the kingdom of God.
How hospitable are you? Are you willing to open your home and uses your resources to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ?
10.) Archippus- A Discouraged Pastor (17)
Archippus was one of the three persons to whom Paul addressed the letter to Philemon. Paul calls Archippus “our fellow soldier” and indicates that the Christians met in his house and he had some sort of leadership role in the church, possibly the pastor. Many scholars believe that he was Philemon’s son.
In verse 17, Paul admonishes him to “complete the work that had been given him.” Paul didn’t spell out what he meant by this, but Archippus would obviously have known. Apparently, he was discouraged in his ministry and Paul used these words to spur him on to faithfulness.
The lesson here is that even faithful Christian workers can become frustrated and discouraged in their work. Paul took the time to encourage this “no name” pastor who was struggling to complete the work that God had given him. Do you know of anyone who is discouraged in their faith or ministry? Will you come along side of them? Also, if you are the one who is feeling discouraged today, God will still use you in the midst of your discouragement!