Paul’s social network in Colossians: Friends and coworkers in the Lycus Valley

Abstract

Various friends and coworkers are associated with the social network of the Apostle Paul and his connection to the church at Colossae: Timothy, Tychicus, Aristarchus, and Archippus. A close examination focuses upon two of these coworkers and friends, Nympha and Epaphras. A careful exploration and analysis of the Colossian social network illustrates that conflicts exist within the social network, especially in the tension between the equality of all as baptized into Christ and the hierarchy of the paterfamilias-run household and empire. The text-segments of Colossians 1 and the household code in Col 3:18–4:1 exemplify the social tensions that existed in the body of Christ, and are instructive about living within the conflicts.