Is Tall el-Hammam Sodom?

There has been considerable buzz concerning a recent article related to a meteoric destruction of Tall el-Hammam which some suggest is the biblical city of Sodom (see Gen 19). I am personally unpersuaded by the linkage between Tall el-Hammam with Sodom. This Christianity Today article highlights some of my concerns. 

A Snapshot of the Christians in Colossians 4:7-17: Part 2

Yesterday I shared a table of the first five of ten people that are mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:7-17. Here is the second part.

The Persons	The Passages	The Particulars
Epaphras “charming”	·   Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13 ·   Philemon 23	·      Epaphras was from Colossae (Col 4:12) ·      He was called a bond slave of Jesus Christ (Col 4:12) ·      He was a man of earnest prayer (Col 4:12) ·      He probably established (or helped to establish) the church at Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col 1:7; 4:13) ·      He is called a “fellow prisoner” by Paul (Phlm 23)
Luke “luminous”	·   Colossians 4:14 ·   2 Timothy 4:11 ·   Philemon 24	·      He is identified as “the beloved physician” (Col 4:14) ·      He was apparently a Gentile (Col 4:11) ·      He was a “fellow worker” (Phlm 24) ·      He was faithful friend and traveling companion of Paul (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24) ·      He is the traditional author of the Gospel of Luke
Demas (Demetrius) “popular”	·   Colossians 4:14 ·   Philemon 24 ·   2 Timothy 4:10	·      He is one of Paul’s coworkers and companions (Col 4:14; Phlm 24) ·      He apparently deserted Paul (and perhaps deserted the faith) near the end of Paul’s like (2 Tim 4:10)
Nympha “gift of the nymphs”	·   Colossians 4:15	·      There is some disagreement over whether this name should be Nympha or Nymphas, or a man or a woman. Most modern commentators usually prefer the feminine designation. ·      She apparently had a church meeting in her house (Col 4:15)
Archippus “chief groom”	·   Colossians 4:17 ·   Philemon 2	·      He apparently had some kind of significant ministry (Col 4:17) ·      He is called a “fellow soldier” and seems to have been a member of the church in Colossae (Phlm 2)

A Snapshot of the Christians in Colossians 4:7-17: Part 1

I count ten people that are mentioned by Paul near the end of Colossians. Here is a table I put together a number of years ago. I have broken the table into two posts because of its size. 

The Persons	The Passages	The Particulars
Tychicus “fortunate or fortuitous”	·   Acts 20:4 ·   Ephesians 6:21 ·   Colossians 4:7-8 ·   2 Timothy 4:12 ·   Titus 3:12	·      He was from the province of Asia (Acts 20:4) ·      One of Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 20:4) ·      He is described as a beloved brother, faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord (Eph 6:21; Col 4:7) ·      He was one of Paul’s emissaries (Eph 6:21; Col 4:8; 2 Tim 4:12; Tit 3:12)
Onesimus “useful”	·   Colossians 4:9 ·   Philemon	·      He was a runaway slave the apparently ran into Paul and was converted (see Philemon) ·      He apparently served Paul (Phlm 11, 13) ·      He was apparently from Colossae (Col 4:9) ·      He is described as a faithful and beloved brother (Col 4:9)
Aristarchus “the best ruler”	·   Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2 ·   Colossians 4:10-11 ·   Philemon 24	·      He was a Macedonian of Thessalonica (Acts 19:29; 27:2) ·      He was one of Paul’s traveling companions (20:4; 27:2). ·      He is called a “fellow prisoner” (Col 4:10) ·      He was apparently Jewish (Col 4:11)
Mark (or John Mark) “a large hammer”	·   Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37-41 ·   Colossians 4:10-11 ·   2 Timothy 4:11 ·   Philemon 24 ·   1 Peter 5:13	·      His mother was named Mary and she was a believer (Acts 12:12) ·      He was the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10) ·      He was apparently Jewish (Col 4:11) ·      He traveled and ministered with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:25) ·      Mark served as a helper or assistant (Acts 13:5) ·      While serving in Perga John Mark bailed out (Acts 13:13) ·      John Mark’s desertion eventually caused a rift between Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:37-41) ·      The rift between Mark and Paul was apparently later healed since Paul speaks in complimentary tones shortly before Paul dies (2 Tim 4:11) ·      He is called Peter’s “son,” probably figuratively (1 Pet 5:13) ·      Tradition holds that Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark
Jesus who is called Justus “Yahweh is salvation”	·   Colossians 4:11	All we know is that he was apparently a Jewish Christian