Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Philemon 1:24
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
24. Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas ] Cp. Col 4:10; Col 4:14, and notes.
This group of names (with the names of Archippus, Phm 1:2 above, and Onesimus, Phm 1:10) links this Epistle to that to Coloss, in time and place of writing, and in destination. See Paley’s acute remarks ( Hor Paulin, ch. 14) on the subtle tokens of independence in the two lists and so of literary genuineness. See also Salmon, Introd. to N. T., pp. 467. 468.
my fellowlabourers ] A favourite word with St Paul; see above, Phm 1:1.
Demas stands here among the faithful. But see on Col 4:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lucas – see the notes at the Epistle to the Colossians, Col 4:10, Col 4:14.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Marcus, Aristarchus, c.] These were all acquaintances of Philemon, and probably Colossians and may be all considered as joining here with St. Paul in his request for Onesimus. Some think that Marcus was either the evangelist, or John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, Ac 12:12; Ac 12:25. Aristarchus was probably the same with him mentioned Ac 19:29; Ac 20:4; Ac 27:2. See Col 4:10.
Demas] Is supposed to be the same who continued in his attachment to Paul till his last imprisonment at Rome; after which he left him for what is supposed to have been the love of the world, 2Ti 4:10; but see the note.
Lucas] Is supposed to be Luke the evangelist, and author of the Acts of the Apostles. On these suppositions little confidence can be placed: they may be correct; they may be otherwise.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All ministers of the gospel: they are also named, Col 4:10,12,14; they were all at this time at Rome with Paul: see Act 12:12,25; 15:37,39; 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; 2Ti 4:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas,…. Marcus was Barnabas’s sister’s son, the son of that Mary, in whose house the church met, and prayed for Peter when in prison; whose name was John Mark, whom Saul and Barnabas took along with them to Antioch, and from thence, in their travels, to other parts; but he leaving them at Pamphylia, was the occasion of a contention between Saul and Barnabas afterwards, when returned to Antioch; the latter insisting on his going with them again, and the former refusing it on account of his departure from them; which contention rose so high that they parted upon it, Ac 12:12 though after this the apostle was reconciled to him; he approving himself to be a faithful and useful minister of the Gospel; and therefore he desires Timothy to bring him along with him, 2Ti 4:11 and if this epistle was written after that, he was now come to him; however, he was now with him, whether before or after: Aristarchus was a Macedonian of Thessalonica; or very likely the apostle had been the instrument of converting him there, and who followed him from thence, and attended him wherever he went; he was with him in the uproar raised by Demetrius at Ephesus, and accompanied him into Asia; went with him in his voyage to Rome, and was now a fellow prisoner there,
Ac 19:29. Demas is the same with him who is mentioned in 2Ti 4:10 and if this epistle is later than that, it should seem that he was restored from his fall, and was returned to the apostle. Lucas is the same with Luke the Evangelist, the beloved physician, the brother whose praise was in all the churches, and a constant companion of the apostle, in his travels; and who wrote the book called, “The Acts of the Apostles”: these the apostle styles, “my fellow labourers”, being all ministers of the Gospel; and this shows the apostle’s great humility, so to call them, when they were far from being on an equal foot with him in office, gifts, or usefulness: and the Christian salutations of these persons are sent to Philemon, with this view, to engage him the more to attend to the apostle’s request, in which they all joined.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The other “co-workers” () here (Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke) are all named in detail in Col 4:10-14 with kindly words.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Mark. Probably John Mark the evangelist. He appears as the companion of Paul, Act 12:25; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11. Aristarchus. A Thessalonian. Alluded to Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Act 27:2. He was Paul ‘s companion for a part of the way on the journey to Rome.
Demas. See Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:10.
Luke. The physician and evangelist. See Introduction to Luke’s Gospel.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Marcus” (Markos) “(also) Mark,” Act 12:12; Act 12:25; 2Ti 4:11.
2) “Aristarchus,” (Aristarchos), of Thessalonica, Act 19:29; Act 27:2; Col 4:10.
3) “Demas” (Demas) Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:10.
4) “Lucas” (Loukas) Beloved physician, personal physician and companion of Paul in the mission field, writer of Luke and the book of Acts of the Apostles, Act 16:12; Act 20:5; Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:11.
5) “My fellow laborers” (hoi sunergoi mou) “My fellow workers With Paul at the time he wrote this letter were Epaphras and these four other brethren, including John Mark and Luke, two of the Gospel writers, and Demas of Thessalonica who deserted him some two years later, I 1Ti 4:10. Aristarcus was also from Thessalonica of Macedonia, Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Act 27:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24 Demas. This is the same person who afterwards forsook him, as he complains in the Second Epistle to Timothy (2Ti 4:10.) And if one of Paul’s assistants, having become weary and discouraged, was afterwards drawn aside by the vanity of the world, let no man reckon too confidently on the zeal of a single year; but, considering how large a portion of the journey still remains to be accomplished, let him pray to God for steadfastness.
END OF THE COMMENTARIES ON THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
24. Marcus The evangelist. See his life, prefixed to his gospel in our vol. 1 .
Aristarchus Note Act 19:29.
Demas Abbreviated form of Demetrius. See notes Col 4:14 and 2Ti 4:10.
Lucas Luke the evangelist.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
Ver. 24. Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas ] Here Demas was in good credit with the apostle, but soon after fell away; like as glass, and some baser metals, shine brightest in the fire when nearest of all to melting, or as the candle giveth a great blaze when going out with a stench. Hypocrites have their non-ultra when the godly man’s motto is (as was Charles V’s) Ulterius, Further yet, on, on.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Phm 1:24 . : i.e. , John Mark, cf. Act 12:25 ; Act 15:37 , Phi 4:10 ; he and Aristarchus were Jewish-Christians (Col 4:11 ). , : Gentile Christians ( cf. Act 16:10 ; Act 20:5-6 ; Act 21:15 ; Act 27:2 ); the former name is a contraction of (Col 4:14 ; 2Ti 4:10 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Marcus. See Act 12:12, Act 12:25; Act 15:37, Act 15:39. Col 4:10. 2Ti 4:11; 1Pe 5:13.
Aristarchus. See Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Act 27:2. Col 4:10.
Demas. See Col 4:14. 2Ti 4:10.
Lucas. See Col 4:14. 2Ti 4:11; also Introduction Notes to Luke’s Gospel, especially the foot-note.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Phm 1:24. , Luke) He, who was most closely connected with Paul, is named after the others. There is a note in two Greek copies, in the possession of Mill and Kuster, intimating, that the blessed Onesimus died a martyr at Rome, having suffered the punishment of breaking the legs.[1]
[1] Bengel, J. A. (1860). Vol. 4: Gnomon of the New Testament (M. E. Bengel & J. C. F. Steudel, Ed.) (J. Bryce, Trans.) (327-331). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Philemon 1:24
and so do Mark,-Mark had aforetime been unfaithful to Paul (Act 13:13; Act 15:36-41) which caused a serious breach between Paul and Barnabas. [But at a later time he is marked out as useful as ministering. (2Ti 4:11.) Pauls firmness in refusing at whatever cost to take with him an unworthy man we may presume had aroused Mark to a better spirit.]
Aristarchus,-He was a Macedonian, had accompanied Paul in his return from Macedonia. (Act 19:29.) He had accompanied him on his journey to Jerusalem as one chosen to go with him to carry the bounty of the Macedonian churches to the poor saints in Jerusalem. (Act 20:4.) He was with Paul when he was taken prisoner, and was either himself sent as a prisoner or voluntarily accompanied him to Rome and remained with him during his imprisonment. (Act 27:2.)
Demas,-Demas was one of Pauls companions in Rome (Col 4:14), but seems after Pauls second imprisonment to have forsaken him, having loved this present world. (2Ti 4:10.)
Luke, my fellow-workers.-Luke was doubtless the beloved physician (Col 4:14) and the traveling companion of Paul, who wrote Acts of Apostles and the Gospel of Luke, and during his second imprisonment (2Ti 4:11) was the only one of Pauls companions who remained with him. He here calls all these his fellow laborers.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Marcus: Act 12:12, Act 12:25, Act 13:13, Act 15:37-39, Col 4:10, 2Ti 4:11
Aristarchus: Act 19:29, Act 27:2
Demas: Col 4:14, 2Ti 4:10
Lucas: 2Ti 4:11
my fellowlabourers: Phm 1:1, Phm 1:2, 2Co 8:23, Phi 2:25, Phi 4:3, 3Jo 1:8
Reciprocal: Act 20:4 – Aristarchus 1Co 16:20 – the brethren 2Co 13:13 – General Phi 4:21 – The Col 4:11 – fellowworkers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Phm 1:24. And to do Mark. Doubtless the John Mark who on the first missionary journey had turned back and left Paul and Silas. He had not ceased, however, to work in Christs cause, and the apostles displeasure had passed away, for Mark had become profitable to him for the ministry (2Ti 4:11).
Aristarchus. A Macedonian of Thessalonica (Act 27:2) who accompanied Paul to Rome, and who appears to have devoted himself to the apostles service through the whole imprisonment.
Demas, mentioned like the rest in the Colossian Epistle, but at a later time (2Ti 4:10) described as deserting St. Paul for the love of the world.
Luke, elsewhere (Col 4:14) called the beloved physician. He travelled much with St. Paul, and may have been necessary to the apostle by reason of his bodily infirmities.
my fellow-labourers. By his own efforts and by those of his companions, St. Paul made it apparent that, even though he were a prisoner, the Word of God was not bound. We often regard the two years at Rome as a time when the apostolic work was stayed. It may well have been the most fruitful period of the apostles life, for from his own lips the Roman soldiery learnt the story of the Cross, while the self-sacrificing zeal of his Christian companions was ready to undertake any duty that would prove them deserving of the name of fellow-labourers.