Colossians 1:7

“As ye also learned of Epaphras, etc.] To know the grace of God, believe the truth of the Gospel, and to own and profess it sincerely. Our dear fellow servant; a “servant” of Christ he was, and a “fellow” servant of the apostles, jointly engaged with them in preaching the Gospel; which character, as it greatly commends Epaphras, and shows him to be a very considerable preacher of the word, so it expresses the great humility and condescension of the apostle, in putting him upon a level with himself, though he was not in that high office of the apostleship he was. And “dear” this precious servant of Christ was to him, and his fellow ministers, on account of the grace and gifts bestowed on him,…”

“As ye also learned--"Also" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts. The insertion implied that those inserting it thought that Paul had preached the Gospel to the Colossians as well as Epaphras, Whereas the omission in the oldest manuscripts implies that Epaphras alone was the founder of the Church at Colosse. of--"from Epaphras." dear--Greek, "beloved." fellow servant--namely, of Christ. In Plm 1:23 he calls him "my fellow prisoner." It is possible that Epaphras may have been apprehended for his zealous labors in Asia Minor; but more probable that Paul gave him the title; as his faithful companion in his imprisonment (compare Note, see on Col 4:10, as to MEYER'S conjecture). who is for you,…”

“As ye also learned of Epaphras - Epaphras was then with Paul. Philemon 1:23. He had probably been sent to him by the church at Colossae to consult him in reference to some matters pertaining to the church there. It is evident from this, that Epaphras was a minister of the church at Colossae, though there is no evidence, as has been often supposed, that he was the founder of the church. The apostle here says, that they had learned from Epaphras the true nature of the gospel, and he designs undoubtedly to confirm what he had taught them in opposition to the teachings of errorists; see the Introduction, Section 4. He had doubtless conferred with Epaphras respecting the doctrines which he had…”

“The fellowservant - Of Paul and Timotheus. Colossians 1:8”

“1:7 Epaphras (see also 4:12-13; Phlm 1:23) was probably converted when Paul ministered in Ephesus (see Acts 19:10) and then returned to Colosse to bring the Good News to his own town.”

“Epaphras: Col 4:12; Plm 1:23 our: Phi 2:19-22, Phi 2:25 a: Num 12:7; Mat 24:45, Mat 25:21; Co1 4:2, Co1 4:17, Co1 7:25; Co2 11:23; Eph 5:21; Ti1 4:6; Ti2 2:2; Heb 2:17, Heb 3:2 Colossians 1:8”