EPAFRA (VOLG. EPAPHRAS)

EPAFRAS (Vulg. Epaphras). – A disciple and collaborator of Paul (Col 1:7; 4:12; Phlm 23).

That his name (Ἐπαφράς) is a shortened form of Epaphroditus (v.) seems certain; but it cannot be said as much for the opinion that would make the two into a single person, now designated by the full form, now by the diminutive. The distinction is required by the difference in the environment in which they operate and in their relationship with Paul.

E. had instructed (Col 1:7; cf. 2:6 sq.) the faithful of Colossae (v. cf. also COLOSSIANS, EPISTLE TO THE). In Col 4:12 sq. E. greets the community to which he belongs, as a native of the same city of Colossae and as its organizer and leader. Paul calls him “a servant of Christ Jesus,” ever anxious (ἀνθρωπίνης), νομίζει, in prayer for their welfare, not only the Colossians, but also the faithful of Laodicea and Hierapolis. It is probable that he was also responsible for

EPAFRAS (Vulg. Epaphras). – A disciple and collaborator of St Paul, known only from the Letter to the Philippians, if he is considered, as is almost certain, to be a person distinct from Epaphras (v.). The vivid portrait that Phil 2:25-30 draws of him has the affectionate tone of the entire letter. Paul calls him his “brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier” (v. 25), with an ascending gradation that well expresses their shared sentiment, common labor, and shared risk and suffering. He is also called “messenger” (ἀναπέμφθει), in the secular sense of the word, because he was sent by the Philippians, with various gifts, to meet Paul’s needs; hence Paul also calls him “minister” (ὑπουργός) of my needs (v. 30).

At Rome, E. had fallen gravely ill, an illness that caused great concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had mercy on him and also on Paul, so that Paul might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to Philippi, so that their joy might be complete. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of his journey to Rome, for after saying that E. came close to death for the work (ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ) of Christ (v. 30), Paul immediately adds, clarifying, that he had risked his life to fulfill that mission (ἀποστολή) which the Philippians had wished to accomplish for their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on March 22 as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither he would have been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, p. 367 sq.

At Rome, E. had fallen into a mortal illness, which had caused grave concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had taken pity on him, and also on Paul, so that the latter might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to the Philippians, so that their joy might be shared. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of the journey to Rome, for Paul, after saying that E. had come close to death for the work (ἐκ τῷ ἔργον) of Christ (v. 30), immediately adds, by way of clarification, that he had risked his life to complete that ἀποστολή which the Philippians had wished to carry out on behalf of their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 22 March as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither he would have been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, p. 367 sq.

**EPAFRAS** (Vulg. Epaphras). – A disciple and co-worker of St Paul, known only from the Letter to the Philippians, if he is regarded—as is almost certain—as a person distinct from Epaphra (v.). The vivid portrait that Paul draws of him in Phil. 2.25-30 has the affectionate tone of the whole letter. Paul calls him his “brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier” (v. 25), in an ascending gradation that well expresses their shared sentiment, common labour, and shared risk and suffering. He is further described as “sent” (ἀναπέμψαι), in the ordinary sense of the word, because he was dispatched by the Philippians with various gifts to meet Paul’s needs; hence the Apostle also calls him the “minister” (ὑπουργός) who “served” (ἐκτενοῦνται V. 30) my necessities.

At Rome, E. had fallen into a mortal illness, which had caused grave concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had taken pity on him, and also on Paul, so that the latter might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to the Philippians, so that their joy might be shared. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of the journey to Rome, for Paul, after saying that E. had come close to death for the work (ἐκ τῷ ἔργον) of Christ (v. 30), immediately adds, by way of clarification, that he had risked his life to complete that ἀποστολή which the Philippians had wished to carry out on behalf of their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 22 March as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither he would have been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, p. 367 sq.

**EPAFRAS** (Vulg. Epaphras). – A disciple and co-worker of St Paul, known only from the Letter to the Philippians, if he is regarded—as is almost certain—as a person distinct from Epaphra (v.). The vivid portrait that Paul draws of him in Phil. 2.25-30 has the affectionate tone of the whole letter. Paul calls him his “brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier” (v. 25), in an ascending gradation that well expresses their shared sentiment, common labour, and shared risk and suffering. He is further described as “sent” (ἀναπέμψαι), in the ordinary sense of the word, because he was dispatched by the Philippians with various gifts to meet Paul’s needs; hence the Apostle also calls him the “minister” (ὑπουργός) who “served” (ἐκτενοῦνται V. 30) my necessities.

At Rome, E. had fallen into a mortal illness, which had caused grave concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had taken pity on him, and also on Paul, so that the latter might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to the Philippians, so that their joy might be shared. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of the journey to Rome, for Paul, after saying that E. had come close to death for the work (ἐκ τῷ ἔργον) of Christ (v. 30), immediately adds, by way of clarification, that he had risked his life to complete that ἀποστολή which the Philippians had wished to carry out on behalf of their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 22 March as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither he would have been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, p. 367 sq.

At Rome, E. had fallen into a mortal illness, which had caused grave concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had taken pity on him, and also on Paul, so that he might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to the Philippians, so that their joy might be shared. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of the journey to Rome, for Paul, after saying that E. had come close to death for the work (ἐκ τῷ ἔργον) of Christ (v. 30), immediately adds, by way of clarification, that he had risked his life to complete that ἀποστολή which the Philippians had wished to fulfill on behalf of their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 22 March as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither, it is said, he had been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, pp. 367 sq.

**EPAFRAS** (Vulg. Epaphras). – A disciple and co-worker of St Paul, known only from the Epistle to the Philippians, provided he is considered, as is almost certain, a person distinct from Epaphra (v.). The vivid portrait which the passage Phil. 2, 25-30 gives of him has the affectionate tone of the whole letter. Paul calls him his “brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier” (v. 25), with a rising gradation that well expresses their shared sentiment, common labor, shared risk and suffering. He is further described as “sent” (ἀναπέμψαι), in the ordinary sense of the word, because he had been dispatched by the Philippians with gifts of various kinds to meet Paul’s needs; hence Paul also calls him the “minister” (ὑπηρέτης, ἐκτενοῦνται V. 30) of my necessities.

At Rome, E. had fallen into a mortal illness, which had caused grave concern both to Paul and to the faithful of Philippi. The Lord, however, had taken pity on him, and also on Paul, so that he might not have sorrow upon sorrow (v. 27). Now Paul was hastening to send him back to the Philippians, so that their joy might be shared. It seems that E.’s illness was a consequence of the hardships of the journey to Rome, for Paul, after saying that E. had come close to death for the work (ἐκ τῷ ἔργον) of Christ (v. 30), immediately adds, by way of clarification, that he had risked his life to complete that ἀποστολή which the Philippians had wished to fulfill on behalf of their Apostle. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on 22 March as bishop and martyr at Terracina (οἱ Ἀρμανοί), whither, it is said, he had been sent by St Peter. Cf. Acta SS. Martii, 3rd ed., Paris-Rome 1865, pp. 367 sq.