Colossians 4:11
in Colossians 4Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.
KJV
And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
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This verse in Colossians 4
Commentary
11 notes on this versePerhaps this was a Corinthian. Having expressed fitting approval for each one individually, the apostle now offers a common praise; for at that time it seemed a great thing to be from among the Jews. But, lest the listeners lose heart, since he reminded them …
This site's exposition
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner
on Colossians 4:10-11
Aristarchus the Thessalonian has shared Paul's road since the Ephesus riot and the shipwreck voyage (Acts 19:29, 27:2), and now shares the title fellowprisoner. Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, is John Mark restored: the man whose departure once split Paul from Barnabas (Acts 15:38-39) is now to be received if he comes, and 2 Timothy 4:11 will call him profitable. With Jesus called Justus these are the only fellow workers of the circumcision, a comfort to Paul, and the note is history's own record that the Jewish mission's laborers had grown few around him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Who are of the circumcision." He represseth the swelling pride of the Jews, and inspiriteth the souls of these, [the Colossians,] because few of them were of the circumcision, the greater number of the Gentiles. "Men that have been," he saith, "a comfort unto me." He shows himself to be set in the midst of great trials. So that neither is this a small thing. When we comfort the Saints by presence, by words, by assiduous attendance when we suffer adversity together with them, (for he saith, "as bound with those in bonds"; [Heb. xiii. 3]) when we make their sufferings ours, we shall also be partakers in their crowns. Hast thou not been dragged to the stadium? Hast thou not entered into the lists? It is another that strips himself, another that wrestles but if thou be so minded, thou too shall be a sharer. Anoint him, become his favorer and partisan, from without the lists shout loudly for him, stir up his strength, refresh his spirit. It follows that the same things should be done in all other cases. For Paul stood not in need, but in order to stimulate them he said these things. Thou therefore in the case of all others, stop the mouths of those who would abuse such an one, procure favorers for him, receive him as he cometh forth with great attention, so shall thou, be a sharer in his crowns, so, in his glory; and if thou do no other thing, but only hast pleasure in what is done, even thus thou sharest in no common degree, for thou hast contributed love, the sum of all good things.
This man was probably a Corinthian. Next, he bestows a common praise on all, having already spoken that of each one in particular; "who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me." After having said, "fellow-prisoner"; in order that he may not therewith depress the soul of his hearers, see how by this expression he rouseth them up. "Fellow-workers," he saith, "unto the kingdom of God." So that being partakers of the trials, they become partakers of the kingdom. "Who have been a comfort to me." He shows them to be great persons, seeing that to Paul they have been a comfort.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And Jesus who is called Justus; he was a holy man, and so was called "Justus" [the Just]. These are the only men of the circumcision, sent to preach the Good News of Christ: "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants, which might have been joined to the foregoing chapter, and is a part of that discourse. Justice is required of them: Give unto your servants that which is just and equal (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
These - Three, Aristarchus, Marcus, and Justus. Of all the circumcision - That is, of all my Jewish fellowlabourers. Are the only fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God - That is, in preaching the gospel.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:84%@v8-12
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Jesus, which is called Justus,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And Jesus, who is called Justus - The name Jesus was probably that which he bore among the Jews. Justus is a Roman name, and was probably that by which he was known among the Romans. It was not uncommon thus to assume another name when one went among a foreign people; compare the notes at Act 13:9. Who are of the circumcision - Jews, or Jewish Christians. Nothing more is known of Justus.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Epaphras, &c., were also fellow laborers, but Gentiles. unto--that is, in promoting the Gospel kingdom. which have been--Greek, "which have been made," or "have become," that is, inasmuch as they have become a comfort to me. The Greek implies comfort in forensic dangers; a different Greek word expresses comfort in domestic affliction [BENGEL].
Jesus, which is called Justus - Jesus, Joshua, or Jehoshua, was his name among his countrymen the Jews; Justus was the name which he bore among the Greeks and Romans. These only - That is, only Aristarchus, Marcus, and Jesus Justus, who were formerly Jews or proselytes; for οἱ οντες εκ περιτομης, they were of the circumcision, and assisted the apostle in preaching the Gospel. There were others who did preach Christianity, but they did it from envy and strife, in order to add affliction to the apostle’s bonds. It is evident, therefore, that St. Peter was not now at Rome, else he certainly would have been mentioned in this list; for we cannot suppose that he was in the list of those who preached Christ in an exceptionable way, and from impure and unholy motives: indeed, there is no evidence that St. Peter ever saw Rome. And as it cannot be proved that he ever was bishop or pope of that city, the keystone of the triumphal arch of the pope of Rome is pulled out; this building, therefore, of his supremacy, cannot stand.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἰησοῦς | iesous | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λεγόμενος | legomenos | is being named | G3004 → | |
| Ἰοῦστος, | ioustos | Justus, | G2459 → | |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄντες | ontes | being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐκ | ek | among | G1537 → | 911 times |
| περιτομῆς, | peritomes | [the] circumcision | G4061 → | 36 times |
| οὗτοι | houtoi | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| μόνοι | monoi | only | G3441 → | |
| συνεργοὶ | sunergoi | fellow workers | G4904 → | |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλείαν | basileian | kingdom | G932 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ, | theou | of God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| οἵτινες | oitines | who | G3748 → | 144 times |
| ἐγενήθησάν | egenethesan | have been | G1096 → | 667 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| παρηγορία.¶ | paregoria | a comfort. | G3931 → |
καὶand also
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἸησοῦςJesus
iesousG2424 →908 times
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
λεγόμενοςis being named
legomenosG3004 →
Ἰοῦστος,Justus,
ioustosG2459 →
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ὄντεςbeing
ontesG1510 →2333 times
ἐκamong
ekG1537 →911 times
περιτομῆς,[the] circumcision
peritomesG4061 →36 times
οὗτοιthese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
μόνοιonly
monoiG3441 →
συνεργοὶfellow workers
sunergoiG4904 →
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείανkingdom
basileianG932 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ,of God,
theouG2316 →1312 times
οἵτινεςwho
oitinesG3748 →144 times
ἐγενήθησάνhave been
egenethesanG1096 →667 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
παρηγορία.¶a comfort.
paregoriaG3931 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
- 1 Peter 4:10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
- Galatians 2:21
I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9
Through
Colossians 4:7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:21–23
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- 2 Timothy 4:12
Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
- Acts 20:4
Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
- Ephesians 6:21–23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Colossians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 11; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.