Colossians 4:11 - and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
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What does "Colossians 4:11" mean?
This verse, Colossians 4:11, is part of a longer list of greetings and commendations that Paul sends to the Colossian church. Let's break down what it means:
"and Jesus who is called Justus": Paul is sending greetings from a man named Jesus, but to avoid confusion with Jesus Christ, he also goes by the Roman name Justus. It was common in the Roman world for people to have both a Jewish name and a Roman name.
"These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision": This is the key part. "Of the circumcision" means they are Jewish. Paul is emphasizing that, out of all the Jewish Christians working with him in spreading the Gospel, only Jesus (Justus) and the others mentioned in the verses before (Aristarchus and Mark) are his only fellow workers.
"men who have been a comfort to me": Paul is saying these Jewish believers have been a source of encouragement and support to him in his ministry. This is particularly significant because it implies that other Jewish Christians may not have been as supportive, perhaps due to disagreements on how to approach Gentile converts or the role of Jewish law.
In summary, this verse highlights:
Jewish Believers in the Early Church: It shows that there were Jewish believers in Jesus who were actively involved in spreading the Gospel, even among Gentile populations.
A Small Core of Loyal Jewish Support: Paul acknowledges a small, loyal group of Jewish co-workers who are particularly comforting to him.
Implied Tension: The verse subtly hints at potential tensions within the early church between Jewish and Gentile believers, or perhaps disagreements about the best way to integrate Jewish traditions into the expanding Christian movement. Paul's emphasis on how these specific Jewish Christians comforted him suggests that others may not have been as supportive.
The Significance
This verse gives a glimpse into the complexities of the early church. It was a time of transition, grappling with issues of Jewish identity, the role of the Law, and the inclusion of Gentiles. Paul's words underscore the value of unity and mutual support in the face of these challenges.
In essence, Paul is expressing gratitude for a small group of Jewish Christians who stood by him and provided comfort amidst the pressures of his ministry.
Colossians 4:11 - and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
What does "Colossians 4:11" mean?
This verse, Colossians 4:11, is part of a longer list of greetings and commendations that Paul sends to the Colossian church. Let's break down what it means:
"and Jesus who is called Justus": Paul is sending greetings from a man named Jesus, but to avoid confusion with Jesus Christ, he also goes by the Roman name Justus. It was common in the Roman world for people to have both a Jewish name and a Roman name.
"These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision": This is the key part. "Of the circumcision" means they are Jewish. Paul is emphasizing that, out of all the Jewish Christians working with him in spreading the Gospel, only Jesus (Justus) and the others mentioned in the verses before (Aristarchus and Mark) are his only fellow workers.
"men who have been a comfort to me": Paul is saying these Jewish believers have been a source of encouragement and support to him in his ministry. This is particularly significant because it implies that other Jewish Christians may not have been as supportive, perhaps due to disagreements on how to approach Gentile converts or the role of Jewish law.
In summary, this verse highlights:
Jewish Believers in the Early Church: It shows that there were Jewish believers in Jesus who were actively involved in spreading the Gospel, even among Gentile populations.
A Small Core of Loyal Jewish Support: Paul acknowledges a small, loyal group of Jewish co-workers who are particularly comforting to him.
Implied Tension: The verse subtly hints at potential tensions within the early church between Jewish and Gentile believers, or perhaps disagreements about the best way to integrate Jewish traditions into the expanding Christian movement. Paul's emphasis on how these specific Jewish Christians comforted him suggests that others may not have been as supportive.
The Significance
This verse gives a glimpse into the complexities of the early church. It was a time of transition, grappling with issues of Jewish identity, the role of the Law, and the inclusion of Gentiles. Paul's words underscore the value of unity and mutual support in the face of these challenges.
In essence, Paul is expressing gratitude for a small group of Jewish Christians who stood by him and provided comfort amidst the pressures of his ministry.