The Epistle of Colossians

Chapter 4

² Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; ³ meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

The Apostle Paul was earnestly emploring the believers in Colossea to be vigilent and passionate in their prayer life, devoted and persistent, with a grateful and thankful heart. His words were: "When you pray, please pray for us too that God would open doors to witness for Christ, as I am in these chains because of speaking forth the truths of the Gospel." He continue to ask them to pray that he proclaims the message in a clear manner as he speaks boldly in the way he needs to to get the message across clearly to them. 

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

The apostle was giving instruction to these Colossian believers when he wrote "Make sure you act wisely among those who are not believers. Make the most of every opportunity by making sure that your conversation is gracious, pleasant, and interesting.

These same words apply to us as well. It's important to remember that we are the salt of the earth, so our words need to be seasoned with the salt of life so we will know how to answer any one who questions us regarding the important things in life. 

How to treat an employee

Colossians 4:1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Again, the 1st century was filled with masters and slaves. Here, however, in the 21st century we can look at this as employer to employee.

• Employers, treat your employees justly and fairly just as your father in heaven, who is your master, treats you.

The Apostle Paul's final instruction

As typical for the Apostle Paul in the 1st century, greetings were given at the end of the letter. The apostle now gives his final greeting from those who are either in his prison house with him or those living in Rome and involved in the ministry of the Gospel with the Apostle Paul.

⁷ Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ⁸ I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

As was brought out in the introduction to this epistle, Tychicus was a companion to the Apostle Paul, probably spending time in prison with him. As a faithful believer in the Lord, as well as a faithful partner to the apostle, they both served the Lord together.

• Tychicus was getting prepared to travel to Colossea on behalf of the apostle, and as instructed, he would give a full report of everything - and deliver this letter and to tell them why the letter was written. He was also delivering Onesimus back who was a former resident and slave of Philemon, the pastors of the church, who had become a faithful brother in the Lord. His message was to encourage these believers in Colossea.

Greetings from

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

Aristarchus from Thessalonica in Macedonia was a close companion of the Apostle Paul. Mentioned in the Book of Acts, he also traveled to Rome with the apostle. He was described as a faithful and dedicated worker, often referred to as Paul's "fellow prisonser" in later letters, indicating his loyalty and commitment to Paul and his faith. While he was not necessarily a personal friend of those in the Colossian church, he was personal as a close friend to the apostle. As such, he sent his greetings to those in Colossea. 

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great

Epaphras, the person from Colossea who came to the apostle with the news of the false teachings within his community in Colossea, and a co-laborer with the apostle also sent his greetings. He apparently stayed on with the apostle. Epaphras was a strong man of faith, praying earnestly for the Colossian church, as well as the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis so they would mature in their faith as well.

¹⁴ Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 

Luke was a Greek physician and a close companion to the Apostle Paul. He was also the author of the books of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. He was with Paul in his prison house to work with him.  Demas, who was also with the apostle was once a faithful follower of Christ and companion to Paul; however, he fell from grace and left the ministry for the love of the world. That grieved the apostle. 

Greetings to

¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

Nymphas was a believer in Laodicea who opened up his home for the church. The apostle is greeting Nymphas and the believers in that church.

¹⁶ Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 

Paul is now asking for an exchange of letters. This letter, after being read in the church in Colossea was to be read to the church at Laodicea and visa versa. That way, all three churches would get the message from the Apostle Paul.

• The letter to the Laodicean church however was lost over the years and did not become part of the New Tetament scriptures. 

¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

His final instruction was to Archippus, who was probably the son of Philemon, who the pastor of the church at Colossai. Instructions were for him to keep and mature in his faith, and fulfill the call of God on his life.

• These same instructions can be given to us as well. Keep the faith, grow in the Lord, and fulfill the call of God on our lives.

¹⁸ This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen

Because of the problems that were going on in the church at Colossai with false teachers claiming their heresy to be truth, the Apostle Paul wanted to make sure that those in the church understood that this letter was from him as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Whether the apostle penned the whole letter of just this last salutation, we do not know. He could have dictated the letter to Timothy, as he often dictated to someone who then penned the letter. We do know, however, that the last salutation of this letter was penned in Paul's handwriting as a verification that this letter came from the Apostle Paul and not from someone who pretended to be him.

This ends our teaching on the Epistle of Colossians. It was powerful, filled with doctrinal concerns that we have even today. As such, we are grateful for the writings of the Apostle Paul as he sat in prison. God used that time for him to minister not only to the church at Colossai, but other churches as well. Can we use that as an opportunity to look inward to ourselves? No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can use whatever tools we have at our disposal to spread the Gospel for Jesus Christ because God can use us wherever we are at and whatever situation we are in.

God bless you, and keep on keeping on - grow in your faith and build the Kingdom of God.

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