Demas gets a small mention here in the letter to the Colossians. In Philemon, he is mentioned as one of Paul’s fellow workers (Phm 24). However, we learn something depressing about Demas in Paul’s second letter to Timothy at the end of his life. Paul explains to Timothy that “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Many people had deserted Paul in his first defense (2 Tim 4:16). However, Paul explains that Demas is in love with the present world/age. Demas seemingly has not deserted Paul but also the faith. We do not know much about this abandoning the ministry going to Thessalonica. Maybe Demas would have a similar story to John Mark. We can learn that just because someone might be in the visible church does not mean that they are in the invisible church. Even someone who is called a fellow worker (Phm 24) might abandon the faith. An excellent reminder for us to place Jesus as our love and not the present world.

i. Church at Laodicea

We see more of the Churches’ interconnections; Epaphras worked hard in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (Col 4:13). Even after his absence, they still are connected. Paul also has written a letter to the Laodiceans that the two churches should read each other’s letters. Laodicea also has a warning like Demas. In the Book of Revelation, Laodicea is the seventh church that is written a letter, out of seven churches. The church in Laodicea is known as the lukewarm church. They are neither hot nor cold. The lukewarm Laodiceans are told to repent, even that Jesus is outside their doors, knocking. We see a great warning about the Laodiceans, which is still true to us today. Not only can visible Christians abandon the faith, but a Church can wander from the word and become lukewarm. The Westminster Confession of Faith explains that “The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error…” (WCF 25.5). However, when some slide towards error. They cease to be a Church of Christ under his Lordship and Headship and they become ‘Synagogues of Satan.’ In the past century, we have seen leaders in the church, churches, and denominations sliding to embrace error. We should be aware and alert.

j. Nympha

We turn to a more positive note—the humble service of a woman who opened her home to host a house church. Most likely, Nympha lived near Laodicea. We see Nympha utilize the gifts that God has given, her house, to advance the kingdom. However, Nympha does not merely have a rental agreement with the house church but opens her doors and lets the church enter into her mess and chaos (if her house is anything like ours). We hear of the great stories of Paul, Peter, and even Luke, with his writing of the Gospel of Luke. However, in this letter to the Colossians, we see a woman how serves the church with a great blessing, her hospitality. More than that, it is recorded in the Scriptures. Serving Christ does not have to be done on a stage or a soapbox, but hospitality is a means of serving Christ and his Church. We are commanded in scripture to “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet 4:9). One of the qualifications of being an elder is that they are hospitable (1 Tim 3:2, Tit 1:8). We see a great need, especially after two thousand and twenty, for Christians to be hospitable. Many times, great ministry happens around a table with food. Who is someone you can invite into your mess and chaos?

k. Archippus

Archippus is a native of Colossae whom Paul exhorts to ‘fulfill the ministry you have received in the Lord.” In Philemon, he is called a fellow soldier (Phm 2). Again, we do not know the detail about this comment, whether it is an encouragement to Archippus to continue in his ministry, or more of a stern exhortation to put back on the armor he has laid aside. Either way, Paul encourages (graciously or more sternly) Archippus to do what God has called him to. Ministry can be difficult and challenging. Even during difficult and challenging seasons, we are called to carry out what God has called us to do. We see this in our next and last example.

l. Paul

Unlike some of the people listed above, you could easily write a whole book on Paul (and people have). I want to draw attention to one aspect of Paul’s ministry that he has not discussed at length in this letter. We would raise this point again and again. Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. We think about the great Christological poem written in Colossians 1:15-20, or the great command for us to walk in Christ (Col 2:6-7). Over fourteen times in the Letter, Paul writes to be thankful, but only on two occasions does he directly mention he is in prison (Col 4:3, 18). He mentions his struggles and sufferings (Col 1:24, 29, 2:1) previously. Paul not only wrote about Christ being supreme and sufficient, but he truly believed it and lived it. Even when he is in prison for his proclamation of Christ, he continued to fight the good fight. Even at the end of his ministry, he can write, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him, be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Col 4:17-18). We learn the hardships of ministry in Paul’s life, but we also see his eyes fixed on eternity.

Yuletide Pondering

From the list of 12 above, we learn a great deal about the church and the church family. Christ brings all of these people from different backgrounds, from prisoners to physicians. He united them under his church. Throughout his life, Christ ministered to men and women from diverse backgrounds. Even in the first years of his life, Jesus Christ got the attention of King Herod, lowly shepherds, star gazing magi, and a priest. Christ came down with a family tree filled with kings, adulterers, murderers, and other sinners. Christ ministered to people who would betray him, desert him, and murder him. He ate at tables with prostitutes, Pharisees, fishermen, and tax collectors. Even from these greetings in Colossians, we see that a mixed group of people are united under Christ. As we sing at this time of year, Joy to the World. Not Joy to the wealthy, the elite, the poor, the weak, the ministers, the prisoners, but Joy to the World.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing.”