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"Warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom: that we may present
every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His
working which worketh in me mightily. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I
have for you and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the
flesh" (Col. 1: 28 - 2: 1).
"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring
fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God. For I bear record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea,
and them in Hierapolis" (Col. 4: 12, 13).
The items that link these two passages together are the double reference to Laodicea,
the use of agonistic terms, agon = "conflict" (Col. 2: 1), agonizomai = "striving"
(Col. 1: 29), and "labouring fervently" (Col. 4: 12). These are subordinate, however, to
the central theme:--
"That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1: 28).
"That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Col. 4: 12).
The correspondence will be the more readily perceived if set out as follows:--
Paul (Col. 1: 28 - 2: 1).
A | METHOD.--Warning and teaching.
B | ACCOMPANIMENT.--Striving (agonizomai).
C | OBJECT.--Present perfect.
D | ANNOUNCEMENT.--For I would that you should know.
E | ACCOMPANIMENT.--What great conflict I have for you.
F | OBJECTS.--For Laodicea and for as many as have not
seen my face in the flesh.
Epaphras (Col. 4: 12, 13).
A | METHOD.--Prayers.
B | ACCOMPANIMENT.--Labouring fervently (agonizomai).
C | OBJECT.--Stand perfect.
D | ANNOUNCEMENT.--For I bear him record.
E | ACCOMPANIMENT.--That he hath great zeal for you.
F | OBJECTS.--For Laodicea and for Hierapolis.
Let us follow the teaching of these passages step by step. First as to the methods
adopted by these two servants of the Lord. The one employed "warning and teaching",
the other "praying". The apostle has recognized this double ministry elsewhere:--
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he
that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now
he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own
reward, according to his own labour. God's fellow-workers are we, God's husbandry,
God's building are ye" (I Cor. 3: 7-9).