The Colossae Circle
Colossians 4 and Philemon — one house church's world
17 profiles tagged The Colossae Circle.
Apphia
Christian woman at Colossae addressed by Paul as 'our sister' in the Letter to Philemon
A prominent female leader in the early Colossian church and a core recipient of Paul’s letter to Philemon, likely the wife of Philemon.
Archippus
Minister in the Colossian church who was exhorted by Paul to fulfill his service
Archippus was a first-century Christian leader in Colossae or Laodicea, addressed by the Apostle Paul as a 'fellow soldier' and exhorted to complete his divinely appointed ministry.
Aristarchus
Companion of Paul who was seized during the Ephesian riot and later became Paul's fellow prisoner in Rome
A faithful Macedonian Christian from Thessalonica who served as a devoted traveling companion and 'fellow prisoner' of the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys.
Barnabas
Prophet and leader in the Antioch church who mentored the Apostle Paul
A Levite from Cyprus and prominent early church leader recognized by the Holy Spirit as a prophet and teacher within the Christian community at Antioch.
Demas
Companion of Paul who abandoned him for love of the world
A companion and fellow-worker of the Apostle Paul who ultimately abandoned the Christian ministry because of his love for the present world.
Epaphras
Minister who founded the church at Colossae and served as a fellow prisoner with Paul
A faithful minister and founder of the church at Colossae who served as a fellow prisoner with the Apostle Paul and a persistent intercessor for the Lycus Valley congregations.
Father of Barnabas
Levite patriarch who was the father of Barnabas and Mary
An unnamed member of the tribe of Levi and the patriarch of a prominent Christian family, identified through the kinship of his children Barnabas and Mary.
Jesus
Messiah and central figure of the New Testament whose life, death, and resurrection form the basis of the Christian faith
The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem, performed numerous miracles, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate before rising from the dead.
Jesus, also called Justus
Jewish Christian worker who assisted Paul during his Roman imprisonment
A Jewish Christian and fellow worker of the Apostle Paul who provided significant comfort to Paul during his Roman imprisonment.
Luke
Physician and loyal companion to the Apostle Paul during his imprisonments
A companion of the Apostle Paul, described as a beloved physician and a faithful fellow worker during Paul’s imprisonments and missionary travels.
Mark
Missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas whose departure caused a rift between the two leaders
An early Christian missionary and companion of Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, whose departure from a mission caused a significant rift between Paul and Barnabas.
Nympha
Host of a house church in Laodicea mentioned by the Apostle Paul
A Christian woman in Laodicea or Colossae who hosted a house church during the apostolic era.
Onesimus
Runaway slave whose reconciliation with his master Philemon is the subject of a New Testament epistle
An enslaved man who fled from his master Philemon and was later converted to Christianity by the Apostle Paul, becoming a beloved brother and ministry assistant.
Paul
Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote much of the New Testament
An apostle and missionary who transitioned from a persecutor of the early church to its most prolific evangelist and theologian in the first century AD.
Philemon
Host of the Colossian house church and recipient of Paul’s letter regarding Onesimus
A wealthy Christian resident of Colossae and slave owner whose gracious response to a runaway slave became a centerpiece of New Testament ethics.
Timothy
Protégé of the Apostle Paul and recipient of the two Pastoral Epistles who led the church in Ephesus
A prominent first-century Christian leader, missionary, and the loyal younger protégé of the Apostle Paul who served as the overseer of the church in Ephesus.
Tychicus
Minister from Asia who delivered Paul's letters to the Ephesians and Colossians
A faithful companion of the Apostle Paul and a prominent leader within the early Asian church, specifically known for his mission to and ministry within Ephesus.