Epaphras
{{Short description|Observer of the apostle Paul}}
{{Infobox saint
| name = Epaphras
| image = Cappella paolina, ext., stefano maderno, s. epafra 2.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| alt =
| caption = Epaphras
| titles =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| home_town =
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| venerated_in =
| beatified_date =
| beatified_place =
| beatified_by =
| canonized_date =
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by =
| major_shrine =
| feast_day =
| attributes = Christian Martyrdom
| patronage =
| issues =
| suppressed_date =
| suppressed_by =
| influences =
| influenced =
| tradition =
| major_works =
}}
Epaphras ({{langx|el|Ἐπαφράς}}) was an observer of the Apostle Paul mentioned twice in the New Testament epistle of Colossians and once in the New Testament letter to Philemon.{{cite book | title=The Greek New Testament | url=https://archive.org/details/greeknewtestamen0000unse_t7p5 | url-access=registration | publisher=Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft United Bible Societies | year=2007 | location=Stuttgart | pages=[https://archive.org/details/greeknewtestamen0000unse_t7p5/page/685 685], 695 & 740 | isbn=9783438051103}}
Analysis
Douglas Moo, in his commentary about Colossians, writes this about Epaphras: "Little is known about him, though we can infer that he was a native of Colossae and that he was perhaps converted by Paul himself during the apostle's ministry in Ephesus. The mention of a co-worker at this point in a Pauline epistle is unusual, and the strength of Paul's endorsement of him is also striking (note also 4:12-13)."{{cite book | title=The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon | publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company | author=Moo, Douglas J. | year=2008 | location=Grand Rapids | pages=90 | isbn=9781844743414}}
{{New Testament people}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Epistle to Philemon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:People in the Pauline epistles