Paul evidently recounts Epaphras as retaining spiritual authority bestowed upon him and Paul undoubtedly clearly distinguished him as the leader of the church. Van der Watt states, Epaphras “was a respected man in the community”. And, he goes on further with, “Paul presents himself as a close associate of Epaphras, working for the same Lord and preaching the same Gospel”. Paul exposes his personal relationship with Epaphras imparting the intimate collaboration between the two. Hiebert elevates Epaphras’s position even further with this statement, “Epaphras holds the unique distinction among all the friends and coworkers of Paul of being the only one whom Paul explicitly commended for his intensive prayer ministry.” Indeed, Hiebert confers
