For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras was a servant of Christ and one of Paul's fellow workers in Rome, where he was held as a fellow prisoner. The verse records Paul's testimony that he had great zeal for the believers in Colosse and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. His zeal showed itself in always laboring hard and praying fervently for them that they might stand mature and perfect and complete and fully assured in all the will of God.
Through him and other divine messengers much excellent labor was bestowed on Laodicea in faithful instruction, including the exhortation to be perfect even as the Father in heaven is perfect. The church at Laodicea heard that work begun for them but did not follow it up, failing to appropriate the truth to themselves and to carry out the instruction given them. Their later lukewarm and self-satisfied condition under rebuke, while still warned and entreated, is the sure result that always follows rejecting the Lord's warnings and appeals after sinning against great light.
Epaphras was a servant of Christ and one of Paul's fellow workers in Rome, where he was held as a fellow prisoner. The verse records Paul's testimony that he had great zeal for the believers in Colosse and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. His zeal showed itself in always laboring hard and praying fervently for them that they might stand mature and perfect and complete and fully assured in all the will of God.
Through him and other divine messengers much excellent labor was bestowed on Laodicea in faithful instruction, including the exhortation to be perfect even as the Father in heaven is perfect. The church at Laodicea heard that work begun for them but did not follow it up, failing to appropriate the truth to themselves and to carry out the instruction given them. Their later lukewarm and self-satisfied condition under rebuke, while still warned and entreated, is the sure result that always follows rejecting the Lord's warnings and appeals after sinning against great light.