In the closing portion of his letter to the Colossians, Paul sends his greetings along with the greetings of some who are with him (Col.4:7-18).  Among those with Paul in Rome where he wrote this letter are Tychicus and Onesimus whom he sent to Colossae to let the believers there know of Paul’s circumstances and to comfort their hearts.  Paul commends his fellow workers for the kingdom of God – Aristarchus, Mark and Justus who have been a comfort to him while imprisoned there in Rome.  Epaphras, who always labors fervently for the Colossian believers in prayer, sent his greetings to them.  Luke the beloved physician and Demas also sent their greetings.  Paul sent greetings to the believers in Laodicea especially Nymphas and the church that meets in her house.  Paul instructed the church in Colossae to make sure the church in Laodicea also reads this letter, and that they should read the epistle from church of the Laodiceans.  Paul also sent an exhortation through the Colossians to a man named Archippus who perhaps was the pastor of the church at Laodicea.

We may wonder why these final greeting passages “made it” into the Word of God.  However, these passages show the impact that the gospel of Jesus Christ had on the lives of real people like you and me.  The people mentioned led lives that are pleasing in the sight of God, and are examples worth following.  In particular, Epaphras is a man of prayer who exemplifies the very instructions given concerning prayer  in this epistle (1:9-10, 4:2)!