The close of the letter is not just a list of names and greetings but a testimony of the reality that Paul has been teaching being worked out.

Tychicus (v7) is mentioned in Acts 20 v4 as accompanying Paul on his final visit to Jerusalem, in Ephesians 6 v21 for bringing that letter to Ephesus and in Titus 3 v12 for coming to Titus on Paul’s behalf. Paul describes him as “a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” They were united through Christ in the Gospel and in Gospel work.

Onesimus (v9) was a runaway slave and thief (Philemon v15-16) who became part of this church. Mark (v10) appears to have been the John Mark who had previously abandoned Paul (see Acts 15 v36-40; 2 Tim. 4 v11).

Here we have two men with previous failures whose lives by the grace of God have put off the old and put on the new (3 v8-10).

Aristarchus (v10) is described as a “fellow-prisoner”. Aristarchus was one of Paul’s travelling companions who had been seized by a mob in Ephesus (Acts 19 v29), he travelled with Paul to Rome (Acts 27 v2) and was shipwrecked.

One of the key elements to Epahras’ fruitfulness was him “wrestling in prayer” (v12). ‘wrestling’ speaks of great effort as does the phrase “working hard” (v13). Pray for grace for you to be faithful to other believers.