Networking – Colossians 4:7-11

I like what Stephanie Speisman says in her article, 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking. She says, “networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another.

The apostle Paul was always networking, linking himself with ministry individuals who became walking, talking advertisements for one another. And here at the close of his letter he does some “advertising” for these co-workers.

Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. (Colossians 4:7-11, ESV)

Paul is winding up his letter and making sure his readers know who they should know and receive greetings from.

Tychicus is likely the one delivering the letter. Paul wants the Colossians to trust him as a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant. He is not just going to tell them about Paul in more detail (his imprisonment, etc.) but encourage their hearts. This likely means Tychicus will do some teaching and preaching.

Most surprising of all is the coming of Onesimus with the letter. Paul describes him as a faithful and beloved brother, one of the Colossians, but we learn from Philemon that he is Philemon’s slave who has apparently run away and perhaps stolen some of Philemon’s property. Tychicus and Onesimus will tell them all about what happened to Onesimus and how he came to be with Paul and what has changed so dramatically in his life since that meeting.

Greetings come to the Colossians from those not traveling with the letter. Paul identifies these as Jewish believers (men of the circumcision). Aristarchus, as we learn from Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2, was a believer from Thessalonica in Macedonia. Macedonia included also the cities of Philippi and Berea. We know he accompanied Paul to Rome and Paul calls him his fellow prisoner, perhaps because he chose to stay with Paul rather than that there were charges against him also.

Mark is the John Mark who abandoned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey and when Barnabas wanted to take his cousin on the second journey led to the split between the two missionaries, each going their own way. But now it is apparent that Paul and Mark have reconciled and Paul has some purpose in mind for Mark of which the Colossians have received instructions. Mark is the same Mark who under Peter’s tutelage wrote our Gospel of Mark.

Jesus who is called Justus (Jesus was a very common Hebrew name) is someone we know nothing about. But he, along with these other Jewish brothers, were a great comfort to Paul while in house arrest in Rome. They were fellow workers for the kingdom of God. That is what we are working for, the kingdom. Christ preached the coming of God’s kingdom and prepared his disciples for it and now they are preparing others for it as well. Are you prepared?

Who are the people in your life whom you have influenced for Christ and who have influenced and blessed you? What would you write someone about them?