Важность открытия и закрытия апостольских букв часто упускается из виду. Хотя они содержат также ценную информацию. Сходным образом, В закрытии письма Павла святым (храм) в Colosse, which Paul wrote from prison in Rome (Колоссянам 4:7-18).
Paul’s last words and salutation to the saints at Colossians 4:7-18
В Послании к Колоссянам 4:7-18 Павел написал, Все мое государство возвестит вам Тихик, Кто такой возлюбленный брат, и верный служитель и сослужитель в Господе: Которых Я послал к вам с той же целью, чтобы он знал ваше имение, и утешат сердца ваши; С Онисимом, верный и возлюбленный брат, Кто один из вас. Они возвестят вам обо всем, что делается здесь.
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner salutes you, и Маркус, сын сестры Варнаве, (касаясь Кого вы получили заповеди: если он придет к вам,, Прими его;) И Иисус, который называется Юстус, которые из обрезанных. These only are my fellowworkers unto the Kingdom of God, которые были для меня утешением.
Епафрас, Кто один из вас, раб Христов, salutes you, всегда усердно трудясь о вас в молитвах, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Ибо я свидетельствую о нем, that he has a great zeal for you, и те, которые в Лаодикии, и их в Иераполе.
Люк, Возлюбленный врач, и Димас, Приветствую Вас. Приветствуйте братьев, находящихся в Лаодикии, и Нимфас, и церковь, которая в доме его. И когда это послание будет прочитано среди вас, чтобы его читали и в Лаодикийской церкви; and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
И скажи Архиппу,, Внимайте служению, которое ты получил в Господе, чтобы ты исполнил его.
Приветствие рукой моего, Павла. Помни мои узы. Благодать да пребудет с вами. Аминь. Написано из Рима к Колоссянам Тихиком и Онисимом (Колоссянам 4:7-18)
Paul’s fellow servants, заключенные, and workers of Christ unto the Kingdom of God
В Послании к Колоссянам 4:7-18 Paul mentioned the names of his fellowservants and fellowprisoners in the Lord Jesus Christ. They were servants of Christ and fellowworkers unto the Kingdom of God (Колоссянам 4:11)
All his fellowservants and fellowworkers of the Kingdom of God were not only working for Christ, but they were also there for each other.
The servants of Christ encouraged and comforted each other and labored fervently for each other in their prayers. They exhorted each other to stay faithful to the ministry, wherefore they were called, and to fulfill their ministry.
They encouraged, comforted, and exhorted each other because the Christians had a hard time in the pagan countries among the unbelievers, who lived without God in sin.
Their message of the gospel was not always received with joy and gladness. And their walk and the life they lived were not always appreciated.
The love for Jesus Christ and the Father compelled the believers to fulfill their task
Однако, there was one thing that compelled them to fulfill their task, and that was their great love for their Lord Jesus Christ.
They believed the words of their Lord Jesus, when He told His disciples, that as the people hated Him and persecuted Him, His disciples would also be hated and persecuted
Иисус не принадлежал миру, but He belonged to God’s Kingdom.
Just like the saints, who were transferred from the darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son, не принадлежу миру.
And just like the world hated Jesus, because He was not of the world and He testified that the works of the world were evil, the world also hated the saints because they were born of God and belonged to Christ and testified of the wicked works of the world. (Ой. Джон 7:7; 8:23-59; 9:39; 14:17-21; 15:18-26; 16:1-11, 33; 17:14-19)
Конечно, there were also people, who didn’t hate, and rejected, and persecuted the saints and their words, but believed their words, and repented and through возрождение во Христе became a new creation and then walked after the Spirit according to the Word. Однако, they lived and worked in a world that hated them.
But it was the love they had for Jesus and the love and fear for the Father that compelled them and whereby they persevered and stood steadfast in the faith.
Without this boundless love for Jesus Christ and the Father, no one will stand. That’s because the power of the world and the opposition is great.
The love of Jesus for the Father compelled Him to finish His work
Jesus knew the Father and His love for the Father compelled Him to finish His work on earth. His love for the Father prevented Him to give into the temptations дьявола, люди, и плоть.
The love for His Father was greater than the love for His flesh and the love for people. Однако, from His love for His Father, He showed His love for the people.
The perilous times and the assembling of the saints
Jesus knew that perilous times would come and He warned His disciples and fellow labourers in the Kingdom of God. Therefore the assembling of the saints was important. Not to play church and to come together for a social gathering and to be entertained and do church activities and fun stuff and have a good time, but to teach the word, правда, and the will of God and to equip the saints in the spiritual war.
The communion with each other was meant to encourage, urge, comfort, предупреждать, правильный, предостерегать, and to pray and fight together for the Kingdom of God.
They knew very well, that although they were transferred from the (kingdom of) darkness into the light; Царство Божие, где Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Majesty and reigns, they lived in a world amidst a faithless, прелюбодейный, зло (злой) and sinful (упрямый) поколение, who had the devil as father and spoke lies and did evil works, and that caused strive and persecution.
Однако, in the power of the Holy Spirit and the communion with their Lord Jesus and the almighty Father, and their fellow brothers and sisters, they were able to bear it and stand in the faith and be victors in the spiritual fight.
Epaphras labored fervently in prayers for the saints, that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God
We read about Epaphras, раб Христов, who was one of them and always labored fervently in prayers for the saints at Colosse.
What did he pray for? Did he pray for earthly riches and favors (благословения) for the saints? Нет, he prayed that the saints would stand perfect and complete in all the воля Божия.
That was his prayer and that should also be the prayer of every believer and saint and fellow servant in Christ.
It’s not about people, but about God and His Son Jesus Christ and obeying and executing His will on earth. So that His Kingdom becomes visible through the lives of the saints.
«Будь солью земли’
