According to the Epistle to the Colossians, Epaphras seems to have been a person of some importance in the Christian community in Colossae,(; ) and tradition presents him as its first bishop. The epistle also seems to imply that Paul had never visited the city, because it only speaks of him having "heard" of the Colossians' faith, and in the Epistle to Philemon Paul tells Philemon of his hope to visit Colossae upon being freed from prison.Philemon 1:22 Tradition also gives Philemon as the second bishop of the see.
According to the Epistle to the Colossians, Epaphras seems to have been a person of some importance in the Christian community in Colossae,(; ) and tradition presents him as its first bishop. The epistle also seems to imply that Paul had never visited the city because it only speaks of him having "heard" of the Colossians' faith, and in the Epistle to Philemon Paul tells Philemon of his hope to visit Colossae upon being freed from prison.Philemon 1:22 Tradition also gives P,hilemon as the second bishop of the see.