The Apostle Paul was an expert evangelist.  He had experience, commitment, and perseverance.  Through his ministry, many had started to follow Jesus Christ and churches had been planted.  Despite imprisonment, he continued preaching and sent teaching letters to many places.  Yet, he was not ashamed to ask the churches he had planted or encouraged to pray for him (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:19; Philippians 1:19).  Even though he had probably never directly ministered to the Colossian church, he also asked them to pray for him.  Did Paul have a problem?  Was he distressed or depressed?  Were h

This letter, from Paul who was imprisoned in Rome, to the church in what is now Western Turkey, had to be delivered.  There was no reliable postal service, no electronic communication, only couriers.  Although some would have made it their trade to take letters for people they did not know, Paul's message was so precious he sent it with a trusted personal courier, Tychicus.  Whenever possible, the apostolic team did not travel alone - Jesus sent disciples out in pairs (Luke 10:1); so Onesimus went as well.  The two men had very different backgrounds, but both were described as 'faithful'.

Epaphras was an evangelist who established the church in Colossae, and later visited Paul in prison in Rome (Colossians 1:7-8).  We do not know how, but having visited Paul, Epaphras also became a prisoner (Philemon 1:23).  Through Paul, he sent personal greetings to his Christian brothers and sisters back home.  

Archippus was a Christian in the house church in Colossae, which met in the home of Philemon (Philemon 1:1-2).  Some think he may have been Philemon's son; we cannot be sure.  However, we know that Paul respected him and describes him as a 'fellow soldier'.  He had received a special ministry from the Lord, had experienced spiritual warfare and yet stayed strong when trouble came.  Paul likens him to a commissioned officer in the army (2 Timothy 2:4) - and gave him the instruction, ‘Do not give up!’