Who are the people sending greetings at the end of Philemon?

Paul lists greetings from Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. He calls them “my fellow workers,” and then closes with a grace blessing (Philemon 1:23–25).

Passage context

Paul closes the letter by sending greetings from companions who are with him. He first mentions Epaphras, describing him as sharing imprisonment alongside Paul in connection with Christ Jesus. Then he lists four others—Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke—calling them fellow workers. These verses function as the letter’s closing, coming after Paul’s personal appeal that Philemon receive Onesimus and after Paul expresses confidence that Philemon will comply, even beyond what was explicitly requested (Philemon 20–21).

Why it matters

These closing lines show Paul acting within a network, not as a lone figure. Epaphras is named first and is described as sharing imprisonment with Paul “in Christ Jesus” (Philemon 23–25). Then Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke are identified as Paul’s “fellow workers,” suggesting real partnership in the same mission.

Read carefully

A common mistake is to treat this as trivia. Names, places, numbers, and sequence details often carry memory, covenant identity, or narrative movement in the biblical story.

Keep reading

Start with Philemon 1:23-25, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.