My Dear Shepherds,

Woven through my 70 years are other pastors, many treasured, a few lost. But I would not be the pastor I am, maybe not a pastor at all, without them. I thought of them as I caught the names Paul included in his letter to Philemon.

He greeted Philemon, “our dear friend and fellow worker.” Paul had evidently led Philemon to Christ (Philemon 1:9) and then entrusted him with the fledgling Colossian congregation (Philemon 1:2). Writing his name must have brought a flood of memories like those I have of beloved brothers and sisters who have shepherded alongside me. Just ordinary servants but together we have built God’s household. Think of it!

Then at the end of the letter, Paul named his companions in Rome,

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. (vv. 23-24)

You recognize those names, of course. Epaphras first brough the gospel to Colossae (Col. 1:6-7), his hometown. Paul’s letter to the Colossians had been delivered along with this personal letter to Philemon. There he wrote,

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Col. 4:12)

I have pastor friends like that. Unsung spiritual heroes who fight for their churches and who know what matters most.

Mark. John Mark. Now there’s a story. He was probably the young man who fled naked from the Garden of Gethsemane the night of Jesus’ betrayal (Mark 14:51-52). He also bailed during Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 15:37-40) but eventually regained Paul’s trust and confidence (2 Tim. 4:11). Peter also regarded him as “my son” (1 Pet. 5:13). Two steps forward, one step back, but faithful in the end. A tribute to Christ, a son and brother to shepherds of God’s flock. I know such servants.

Aristarchus was Paul’s long-time traveling companion, through thick and thin, and a prisoner with Paul (Col. 4:10). Luke, “our dear friend, the doctor” (Col. 4:14), who alone would be with Paul at the end (2 Tim. 4:11) when all others were gone.

Then there’s Demas, the heartbreaker. Here, a good and trusted brother, but in Paul’s last letter he told Timothy, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10). I’ve not been deserted like that but I have known some who have deserted Jesus. They had such promise. They were so gifted and touched so many. Then they walked off into the world and are gone.

Oh, and Onesimus, the restored fugitive. Around 100 ad Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, was arrested and sent to Rome to face the wild beasts. (He was eventually martyred seven years later.) At one stop on his journey to Rome the church in Ephesus sent a delegation with their bishop to encourage Ignatius. Soon after, Ignatius wrote them a letter which still survives. He thanked them for sending their bishop “whose love surpasses words . . . I pray that you may love him with a love according to Jesus Christ, and that you may all be like him.”

That Ephesian bishop’s name was Onesimus. It’s possible it wasn’t the same Onesimus, but the timing fits. Onesimus’ predecessor there was Timothy, another spiritual son of Paul. Ephesus and Colossae weren’t far apart. Not only that, many scholars believe that the first time the letters of Paul were collected was around 100 in Ephesus where Bishop Onesimus led the church. Which could explain how this little gem of a letter that changed the life of a fugitive named Onesimus found its way into the Scriptures.

Perhaps there’s a colleague who would be encouraged to hear from you.

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.