Philemon 1:23 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

The same persons send salutations in the accompanying letter, except that 'Jesus Justus' is not mentioned here.

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner. He had been sent by the Colossians to inquire after and minister to Paul, and possibly was cast into prison by the Roman authorities on suspicion. However, he is not mentioned as a prisoner in Colossians 4:12; so "fellow-prisoner" here may mean merely a faithful companion to Paul in his imprisonment, putting himself in the position of a prisoner. So "Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner," Colossians 4:10, may mean. But see note there. Benson conjectures that on some former occasion these two were Paul's 'fellow-prisoners,' not at the time.

Philemon 1:23

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;