Corpus-Paul

[Richard Fellows <rfellows AT intergate.ca>]

Both Epaphroditus (Phil 2.25; 4.18) and Epaphras (Phm 23; Col. 1:7; 4:12)
were co-workers of Paul, and both were with him during an imprisonment.
This suggests to me that he was probably one person. Epaphras is probably a
short form of Epaphroditus, and Paul is known to have used different names
for the same person from time to time.

Sean Winter offered a counter arguement:
<<Paul's language about them in each case suggests that they are a members
of the Philippian and Colossian communities respectively.>>

However, I think this argument is weak.

1. Firstly, it overlooks the possibility that Epaphras-Epaphroditus
belonged to both Philippi and Colossae. He may have been a native of
Colossae who became a resident of Philippi (or vice versa). Epaphras had
brought the faith to Colossae, so he must have spent some time in another
town where he came into contact with believers. This other town could well
have been Philippi, where there were converts from a relatively early date.
Isn't it possible that Epaphras-Epaphroditus emigrated from Colossae to
Philippi where he became a believer after Paul brought the faith to that
city? Lydia (Acts 16.14) provides a close parallel. She was a native of the
province of Asia who became a resident of Philippi and converted to the faith.

In short, Epaphas may well have maintained residence in the town where he
learned the faith, and that town could well have been Philippi.

2. Secondly, Sean Winter's argument is weakened if Colossians is
psuedonymous. The author might not have known where Epaphras came from.

3. Thirdly, there is no proof that Epaphroditus was a resident of Philippi.

Richard Fellows