Colossians 4:13 tells us that Epaphras has deep, earnest concern for the believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Paul is the one vouching for him, writing to the church in Colossae and assuring them that Epaphras’s care for them is genuine and strong. The verse is a short commendation tucked into the closing greetings of the letter.
For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:13 (WEB)
What Colossians 4:13 Means
The verse opens with “For I testify about him,” which means Paul is giving his personal witness to Epaphras’s character. He is not simply passing along a greeting. He wants his readers to know that Epaphras can be trusted and that his affection is sincere.
The phrase “great zeal” describes intense, wholehearted commitment. It is the word of someone who labors hard and keeps at it, not someone who is lukewarm. Paul names three churches: the believers in Colossae (the letter’s primary audience), those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Epaphras’s concern reaches beyond his own city to neighboring congregations in the Lycus Valley.
What the verse does not do is describe the details of Epaphras’s work or promise any particular outcome from it. It simply affirms his devotion. Its main purpose is to build trust between the letter’s recipients and a faithful co-worker.
The Context of Colossians 4:13
Colossians is traditionally attributed to Paul, written while he was imprisoned, and addressed to a church he had not personally founded. Epaphras himself likely brought the gospel to the Lycus Valley, which makes him a kind of founder and pastor figure for these congregations. Paul writes to the Colossians partly to correct false teaching and partly to encourage them to live out their new life in Christ.
The verses just before and after set the tone. In verse 12, Epaphras is described as “always striving for you in his prayers,” so verse 13 is a natural continuation: his prayers are backed by real, sustained care. The greetings that follow in verses 14 through 16 show Paul weaving a network of relationships across these cities, which is why verse 13 reads as part of a larger picture of shared fellowship.
Key Phrases in Colossians 4:13
Colossians 1:7
Even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf…
(WEB)
This verse names Epaphras directly as the one who first taught the Colossians the gospel and calls him a faithful minister on their behalf. Reading it alongside 4:13 shows that the zeal Paul describes is rooted in a long history of service that began with the preaching of the good news.
Philemon 1:23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you…
(WEB)
In this verse Paul sends greetings from Epaphras, who is described as a fellow prisoner with him. Reading it with 4:13 reveals the kind of costly partnership Epaphras shared with Paul, suggesting that his zeal was tested and proven in hardship as well as in ordinary ministry.
A Short Prayer From Colossians 4:13
Lord, thank you for the people who labor for us in quiet, faithful ways. Thank you for those who pray for us when we cannot see it and who care for us with genuine zeal. Give us grateful hearts for their service and help us to trust those whom you have raised up to serve us well. Keep our own hearts warm toward the brothers and sisters we love, near and far, and make us faithful in carrying them before you. Amen.
