For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. (Col 4:13–14)

Epaphras, unsung outside the area of Colossae, was well known there because he was the one who brought them the gospel of grace (Col 1:6-7). As we mentioned earlier in this study, Paul had not been there personally, but the ministry was the result of others who had heard the message from Paul.For Epaphras, though, his relationship with them was not just a duty, but one of deep love. This is the true mark of a minister of the gospel—he does not serve in ministry simply as a career choice, or as a way to make money, nor to “make a name for himself.” As someone has said, “There is no limit to what can be accomplished for God, if you don’t care who receives the glory.” In Epaphras’ case, what mattered was the people, not himself.

His concern extended to the nearby cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul, likewise, shared that same concern, most likely due to the influence of Epaphras (Col 2:1). Is it not true that passion is contagious? The city of Hierapolis, while only mentioned here in the New Testament, became significant in church history and the formation of the canon of the NT. The writer Papias, reported to have been a disciple of the apostle John, wrote from Hierapolis around A.D. 130 what amounts to be the earliest information we have concerning the origin of the Gospel according to Mark. He recorded that Mark had compiled into a book the sayings of Jesus as he heard them from the apostle Peter.

The Laodiceans, on the other hand, became famous for their slide into luke-warmness, as documented in the book of Revelation (3:14-22). Though they began well, they drifted into a life that was neither hot nor cold. The Lord indicated He would “vomit” them out of His mouth (thought most translations render the word in less unpleasant ways, the word has a sense of repulsion).

Dr. Luke, as he is often called today, was in fact a physician, and a frequent companion of Paul’s. He was the writer of the gospel according to Luke and also the book of Acts. Apparently he was one of those kinds of Christians that had a reputation for exuding Christ-like love. Demas, at this time a faithful co-worker of Paul’s, later separated and went back into a worldly life (2 Tim 4:10)—no specific accolades are mentioned concerning him. Demas’ mention here speaks to the grace of God, even in light of His foreknowledge.