You can learn a lot about a person by looking at their inner circle. As we wrap up our series in Colossians, we’ll take a look at the Apostle Paul’s “battle buddies”—the faithful men and women who shaped, strengthened, and advanced his ministry—and discover what their example teaches us about following Christ together.
The United States Army (along with other military branches) has battle buddies. The Navy’s equivalent, by the way, is called a shipmate. Anyway, back to the term: battle buddies. What does this term denote? It refers to an assigned or trusted buddy who is responsible for assisting, protecting, and caring for their fellow buddy both in and out of combat. Because of battle buddies, military personnel are better equipped to execute orders effectively in tough environments, fight effectively, keep track of each other in the chaos of battle, and support each other with mental and personal life issues they may face after a battle.
No wonder our fighting forces are positioned to win. The camaraderie created by battle buddies serves to knit them together into a formidable group. Serving, therefore, is so much more powerful when you have a trusted, loyal friend who has your back.
Paul understood this concept. Eight of his thirteen letters close with mentioning battle buddies who stood with him as he spread the gospel on the terrain of spiritual darkness (Eph. 2:1-3).
- Romans 16 contains 26 to 28 battle buddies
- 1 Corinthians 16 contains greetings to two special battle buddies: Aquila and Priscilla (Prisca)
- Philippians 4 mentions saints from Caesar’s household
- 2 Timothy 4 mentions Aquila and Priscilla again, along with the household of Onesiphorus
- Titus chapter 3 lists four great men who stood with Paul in ministry
- Philemon mentions five brave men who served alongside Paul (Phil. 1:23-24)
- Ephesians 6 mentions Tychicus, one of Paul’s main buddies
No sooner did Jesus call Paul to be his apostle, or “sent one,” than he acquired a team of people to support him, to hold him accountable, and to carry out his vision to take Christ’s redemptive message to Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 1:16). So, whether he traveled through the rough mountainous terrain in the provinces of Asia Minor known as Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisida (Acts 13:13) on his first missionary journey, or sat for two years in a prison cell in Caesarea under Roman governors Felix and then Porcius Festus (58-60 A.D.), Paul had battle buddies around him.
What about you? Who are your spiritual battle buddies? From Paul’s closing remarks in Colossians, namely, chapter 4, verses 7 through 18, we are not only acquainted with those spiritual soldiers who served with Paul, but we learn this valuable spiritual concept:
Battle Buddies Help You Grow And Go (Col. 4:7-18)
If you want to do great things for Christ, if you want to mature at a faster pace, if you want to be strengthened when, not if, times get tough, then battle buddies are a must. Again, I ask you, who are yours?
I’ve had many over the last fifty-nine years of walking with Jesus. Some are home with Christ now, but many are still with me, and I thank God for them. They add a richness to my Christian faith, a joy to each day, a power to cut deep into Satan’s kingdom, and a much-needed level of personal accountability. Every elder on the council is one of my battle buddies, and so, too, are people like Pastor Michael, Steve Knight, the entire pastor staff, all of our Directors, not to overlook the numerous friends sprinkled throughout this great church body.
As Paul closes his powerful personal letter to the Colossae Community Church, he mentions ten battle buddies by name. Believe me, we can learn much about their personal value to Paul and their ultimate value to us by briefly studying them.
Battle Buddy #1: Tychicus (Col. 4:7-8)
Tychicus, or he might have been nicknamed Ty (just a thought), was one of Paul’s core battle buddies. He is mentioned four other times in the NT (Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:12; and Titus 3:12). In Colossians 4, we encounter his fifth identification:
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; (Col. 4)
Endearing terms describe this great saint: beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bond-servant in the Lord. Indeed, the life of Tychicus reflected each of these words.
We learn from Acts 20:4 that Tychicus hailed from Asia. He was one of the seven men who accompanied Paul on his final trip to Jerusalem. When the Jews had Paul arrested on trumped-up charges, and he eventually wound up in a prison cell in the coastal city of Caesarea, Tychicus stayed near his mentor. When Paul was placed under house arrest in Rome, it was men like Tychicus whom he leaned on to further the work of the gospel and the shepherding of the various churches. The fact that he traveled some 1,180 miles from Rome to Colossae by sea and land to deliver this letter to the Colossians showed his utter devotion to Paul and his love and care for the saints. He, along with other traveling battle buddies, also delivered Paul’s other prison epistles to area churches and saints: Philippians, Ephesians, the lost letter to the Laodiceans (Col. 4:6), and Philemon. Later, when Paul was rearrested and placed in a Roman prison before his execution under Nero, the Apostle dispatched Tychicus again to the church in Ephesus to check in on them (2 Tim. 4:12). That meant another 1,180-mile trip.
What a buddy. No wonder Paul called him a beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bond-servant in the Lord. If Paul needed someone to count on at a tough, trying time, Tychicus was a man. What does his life teach us? It teaches us that even great teachers and leaders, like Paul, need saints who will faithfully and fearlessly do seemingly obscure, mundane things . . . like delivering letters . . . so that other saints are encouraged and motivated to keep on the straight and narrow path that leads to life. Because of this man’s devotion, not only did the various churches of Paul’s prison epistles gain spiritual food for the battle against darkness, we, too, over 2,000 years later, enjoy the same meal that feeds our souls so we can grow in the faith, while also in the future with the gospel of grace for sinners. So, who is your Tychius? And if you are Tychius, then I thank God for you.
Battle Buddy #2: Onesimus (Col. 4:9)
Onesimus was from Colossae; therefore, everyone knew his story. He had stolen from his master, Philemon, and fled 1,180 miles to Rome. While there, I’m sure he thought he could hide among the masses, but he couldn’t hide from God. Somehow, he providentially encountered Paul, and Paul led him to Christ (Phil. v. 10-11). Getting spiritually saved transformed his entire life. He went from being spiritually enslaved to being spiritually free. He went from having a stained conscience because of his crime to possessing a clean conscience. He went from thinking he didn’t have to make restitution for his criminal activity to realizing he needed to head home to Colossae and mend a relationship with his master he had purposefully and selfishly broken.
Listen how Paul describes him:
9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. (Col. 4)
Paul purposefully didn’t mention the fact that Onesimus was a runaway slave. No, he called him by two endearing terms: faithful and beloved brother. When the gospel gets hold of a person, it radically changes them for the better, and Onesimus is an illustration of this truth. Do you have a saint in your life who has a checkered, sordid, and sinful past? Because they so appreciate the grace of Christ, they, ofttimes, can be one of your dearest battle buddies. And if you are on the run from your sin, realize you cannot outrun the Good Shepherd who is looking for you. You, my friend, are the lost sheep He is seeking to find, and once He finds you and you Him, you will never be the same again.
Battle Buddy #3: Aristarchus (Col. 4:10a)
From Acts 20:4, we learn that Aristarchus was a Macedonian from the beautiful coastal city of Thessalonica. Paul introduces us to him in verse 10 with this concise statement:
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); (Col. 4)
He was with Paul on his third missionary journey when they arrived in Ephesus. Paul’s ministry was so effective here that worshippers of the fertility goddess, Artemis or Diana (Acts 19:24), began to turn in large masses to Christ for true salvation. This, of course, cut into the profit margins of the silversmiths who made their living at crafting and selling silver figurines of the goddess. They, in turn, whipped up a massive crowd against Paul at the local stone theater, which seated between 24,000 and 25,000 people (Acts 19:26-29). As the angry crowd chanted rhythmically, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” (Acts 19:28), other followers grabbed Aristarchus and Gaius, who were in the immediate area (Acts 19:29). Paul tried to intervene to save his buddies. Still, the crowd was so violent that other saints wouldn’t let Paul go into the theater to argue his case. Eventually, the city clerk, who possessed some clout, diffused the explosive situation and everyone went home.
We don’t know why Aristarchus and Gaius were in this area, but there is a good chance they were witnessing when this all took place. What a brave duo. Would you have headed into this volatile area, knowing that the townsfolk weren’t too happy with the gospel you were presenting?
Later, when Paul set sail for Rome for his final imprisonment before his execution under Nero, Aristarchus was with him again (Acts 27:2). For some reason, he, too, was a convict for his faith along with Paul. When the ship almost sank between the islands of Crete and Malta, Aristarchus was there. When the ship ran aground and broke up on Malta, Aristarchus was there. When Paul was bitten by a venomous snake on the island, and this was miraculously spared, Aristarchus was there. Yes, here was a battle buddy that was good to have around in a tight time. He wouldn’t cut and run. He wouldn’t complain. He would watch your back. Every saint needs an Aristarchus, a buddy who won’t turn tail and run when things get hot in the kitchen because of the world’s response to the faith, or because of personal adversity, be what it may.
Who is your Aristarchus? Pray for one and the Lord will send them to you. And if you are Aristarchus, may your tribe increase, as Dr. Howard Hendricks used to say in class at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Battle Buddy #4: Mark (Col. 4:10b)
Paul mentions him next:
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); (Col. 4)
Who was this Mark? He was the cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s traveling companion on his first missionary journey. He also was the man who left Barnabas and Paul high and dry as the going got tough in the rough and demanding terrain along the inland coast of southern Asia Minor (Acts 13:13). If you’ve ever had a battle buddy do you wrong, you can well imagine why Paul was none too pleased with this selfish decision. Later, when Barnabas wanted to include Mark on the second journey, Paul reacted angrily (Acts 15:36-40). Sadly, Paul and Barnabas never worked again. Sometimes missteps by battle buddies lead to unfortunate fractures.
But that need not be the end of the story. It took Paul a long time to forgive Mark for this desertion, but he did, as we see from this reference in Colossians 4. This, of course, shows the restorative nature of the gospel in your life. Even though you are wronged by some battle buddies when you needed them most doesn’t mean they can never be in the spiritual battle with you again. Sometimes you need to do the bigger thing, as Paul did here, and forgive them for their immature former decision, be what it may. Once forgiveness came, Paul had reinvigorated the faith of a young man. That young man went on to be a close friend of Peter (1 Pet. 5:13), and he actually wrote the gospel of Mark. Grace and forgiveness are amazing. Do you have a Mark you need to forgive so he can get back in the spiritual fight with you?
Battle Buddy #5: Justus (Col. 4:11)
Justus was a common surname of Jews and proselytes because it denoted a devotion to the law. The Hebrew form of this name is Joshua or Jeshua, which denotes one who saves. What do we know about this battle buddy? I’ll let Paul answer:
11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. (Col. 4)
Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were all Jews, which is denoted by the reference to the circumcision. Their presence shows the power of the gospel in the lives of those who thought salvation was based on faith in God coupled with the good works of the Law of Moses. The true gospel taught them otherwise. They, as sinners, needed to look in repentant faith to the Savior, Jesus, to be saved (Rom. 10:9).
Apparently, they were the only Jewish Christians from the Roman region who dared to identify with Paul when he arrived for his final imprisonment under Nero. From this, we can surmise other Jewish Christians were too fearful that they might be swept up in the emperor’s opposition to followers of Christ. So, they, by and large, laid low in the shadows of Rome. But not these three. They boldly surrounded their battle buddy in the thick of the fight, and for this Paul was most appreciative. When he felt down and depressed, they were there to pick him up with words of encouragement. When he felt alone, they were there to remind him that wasn’t true. I ask you, what more could you want from a battle buddy than for them to be so sensitive to your life needs that they know when to send an encouraging text, give you a quick cell phone call, or drop an uplifting card in the mail? No wonder Paul says they were an “encouragement to me.” In Greek, the word for encouragement is paregoria (παρηγορία). This was an opium-based medicine in ancient times and was used for stomach ailments and coughs. By employing it here, Paul says these particular men were like a much-needed medicine for his aching soul. Does that describe how you are toward other saints? May it be so.
Battle Buddy #6: Epaphras (Col. 4:12-13)
Who was he? He was the founder of the Colossian church (Col. 1:7), and because he is mentioned in relation to the churches in the nearby cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis, he may have founded and pastored them too. Most likely, he was saved when he traveled to Ephesus and eventually listened to Paul as he shared the gospel there for three years. He went back to his home area and immediately began to share the gospel with anyone and everyone. His evangelistic heart was rewarded with many converts who eventually formed vibrant churches. Who doesn’t want a battle buddy like this? They inspire you. They challenge you to go out and do likewise.
Listen to how Paul introduces the evangelist, Epaphras:
12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col. 3).
Two words describe this great battle buddy: He cared, and he prayed. What a combination to create an environment to transform lives and to advance the gospel in a godless time. As one said years ago, If you ain’t praying, you are playin. Epaphras was always praying, and because he did, saints grew up in the faith, marriages were saved, wayward children turned to Christ, saints facing medical issues found hope, and the lost saw the need for the Savior. I thank God for battle buddies who know how to get on the radio and call for divine backup. I thank God for battle buddies who know how to get much done for Christ because they aren’t afraid to ask, seek, and knock on the door of heaven, knowing that God will answer, in due time, in a profound fashion.
We have many folks in our body named Epaphras. I thank God for you because your commitment to prayer is the source of our personal and corporate power to accomplish much for Christ.
Battle Buddy #7: Luke (Col. 4:14a)
Now, here is a top-drawer battle buddy. You have battle buddies, and then you have battle buddies. Luke is one of those special ones:
14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. (Col. 4)
Luke was not only a medical doctor, but he was the only Gentile to write NT books, viz., the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. When he could have stayed home and made great money being a doctor, he chose to give his life to support Paul and his all-important spiritual work.
Here are some fast facts about Dr. Luke’s life as a battle buddy of Paul. From the “we” sections of the book of Acts (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-8; 27:1-28:16), scholars theorize that this is when Luke joined Paul in his missionary travels. When Paul traveled back to Jerusalem after his third missionary trip, he encountered Luke, who was still serving the believers here (Acts 20:3-5). He also joined Paul on the rest of his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-18), and stayed with and near Paul during his two-year imprisonment in Caesarea. He also sailed with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:16). It would be the last time they’d travel together. When other saints deserted Paul as a Roman prisoner, Luke stuck by him no matter what (2 Tim. 4:11). I’m sure he attended to his spiritual, emotional, and physical needs as a good saint and doctor. What a friend. He was a friend literally to the end. This is why Paul calls him “the beloved physician.”
Do you have a Luke in your life? They are a saint with a special skill set that helps you do more for Jesus than you thought you could? They are a Christian because they are thinkers, the intellectuals who’ve used their God-given minds to reason toward God. They’ve studied the evidence for the existence of God, and they choose to worship Him. They’ve studied the hard evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, and they choose to follow hard after Him and support others who are doing the same.
Battle buddies are not cookie-cutter people, far from it. Some are highly loving and emotional, while others are quiet, caring, brainiacs who won’t leave you no matter how rough the weather. I thank God for the Lukes that walk among us. I thank God that He will use this message to challenge more Lukes to step up to the ministry plate and serve other saints sacrificially with their talents and abilities.
Battle Buddy #8: Demas (Col. 4:14b)
Ol’ Demas barely gets an honorable mention:
14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. (Col. 4)
No praise or positive comment is made about him. Why? The last mention of him occurs in 2 Timothy 4, verse 10:
9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (2 Tim.4)
Materialism and hedonism got the best of Demas when Paul faced execution. Talk about a sad betrayal by a once-former fellow servant (Philemon 24). We can’t help but wonder: Did Paul, an astute leader and reader of people, see something in Demas when he wrote Colossians? Probably. Any leader worth their salt, like Paul, knows how to read all those little clues from a person’s life and to draw viable conclusions. Too much talk about costly clothes? Too much emphasis on fine sandals and expensive tunics? Too much talk about going to the best restaurants in town? Perhaps. Paul probably saw the materialistic leanings of Demas early on, and he, therefore, only politely mentions him here. He was, at least, present with Paul, but he was one of those saints who really didn’t pull their load, nor live as they should; hence, Paul didn’t say anything about him.
Are you Demas? Do the things of the world mean more to you than your faith? Are you distracted by all the things in life you can buy? Are you enamored with the kind of car you drive, the kind of clothes you wear, the name brand of your purse, and so on? If so, then the sin of Demas is dragging you down and keeping you from being the battle buddy God wants you to be. Why not set things right today by surrendering your time, talent, and treasures to the Lord, and asking for Him to help you become an effective soldier in His army?
Only one woman is mentioned among all of these men, but she must have been some saint. Her name? Nympha. She is battle buddy number nine:
Battle Buddy #9: Nympha (Col. 4:15-16)
Why is she a battle buddy? Because she dared to open up her home in Laodicea to saints so they could have a church building to call home:
15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. (Col. 4)
What a gutsy move. Would you want a whole bunch of people coming to your home for worship every Sunday? Think of all of the work this would entail. Extra cleaning. Extra food and water. Extra seating. Extra everything, but she was more than willing to do it. In fact, she couldn’t wait to open her front door on Sunday mornings to people either in search of God or who wanted to worship Him with others. What a woman. What a servant. What a battle buddy. Once more, I thank God for those among us who aren’t afraid to sacrifice some of their comforts so the body is enriched and the lost are confronted with the gospel.
As is typical of Paul, in verse 16, he got somewhat sidetracked. Can you say, Squirrel?
16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. (Col. 4)
These Pauline letters typically made their rounds since the churches didn’t have Bibles like we do today. So, everyone enjoyed and hung on the words of Paul when they arrived. This letter would be no exception, and we also learn there is a lost Pauline letter he wrote to the church in Laodicea. I guess the Spirit didn’t think it necessary that we read it. So, He made sure we received Colossians, for sure.
The last battle buddy is interesting:
Battle Buddy #10: Archippus (Col. 4:17)
17 Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” (Col. 4)
Perhaps they called him “Archie.” Just a thought.
From Philemon 2, some NT scholars surmise that Archippus was the son of Philemon and Apphia. From Paul’s command here, it appears he had special spiritual responsibilities in the Colossian church. And from the tone of what Paul says, it appears that the young man was thinking about throwing in the proverbial towel. I’m sure Paul had been there many times in his life. Opposition and adversity have a way of causing you to question your calling; however, when you determine that God’s call is on your life, then there is no way you can, or will, walk away from your pastoral post. I’ve been down this lonely road, so I get the command from Paul. If you are called, you don’t quit. You fulfill your divine calling until Jesus calls you home. Period.
So, here we have an old battle buddy, Paul, encouraging a younger battle buddy, Archippus. When I felt like quitting ministry years ago, God sent me an older battle buddy. His name? Bill Yeager, the retired pastor of Modesto First Baptist. This former WWII tail gunner in a B17 who turned pastor after the war taught me how to fulfill my calling with courage. What a model for all of us older saints in the Lord. May we lift those brothers and sisters we serve with so they, too, will continue to have a positive life impact until Jesus says it’s quitting time.
Paul wraps up his closing words about battle buddies with these endearing words:
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. (Col. 4)
Yes, Paul, we thank you for signing this document with your own hand, even though your eyesight was failing from the ophthalmia you contracted on your first missionary journey. Your signature authenticated this letter. Yes, Paul, we thank you for being imprisoned for your faith. You were physically chained, but you were spiritually free to do much for God in and through that dark, dank prison cell. I can’t wait to see you face to face to hear the specifics about what really transpired.
And, yes, Paul, we all crave to be showered with the loving grace of Jesus Christ. It is because of that grace shown to us as sinners that we are saints . . . and it is because of that grace we are all battle buddies. Let us go out now and live as such to God’s glory.
