4rth Chapter
of Colossians
Colossians 4:1
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
The boss, owner, supervisor, manager or president of a company that has a godly mindset will remember who his Master is and treat others accordingly, being just and fair with all the employees because that is how God is with you.
Justice and equity is to characterize the master (employer).
--Richard Bagget,
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
THE PRAYER WARRIOR IS A FAITHFUL MINISTER AND FELLOW SERVANT
Prayer requires devotion for it to be effective in your life. Paul always mentioned prayer as a prescription at the end of almost every epistle (Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6; 1Th 5:17; 1Ti 2:1) he wrote. The effectiveness of the prayer is not measured in whether or not God answered it, but how the attitude of a prayerful person changes as they devote themselves to seeking God first in everything. Their outlook on life and their involvement in God's Kingdom reflects more and more their spiritual nature.
The need to be watchful in prayer implies vigilance; to keep your eyes and ears open to know what to pray for. If you would be always praying as you hear and see things before you contribute your quarter of a cent, things may go better for you. God wants you to involve Him in prayer the minute you hear stuff happen and the minute you see things happen where you know you need to engage yourself. As a matter of fact, the need to engage ourselves in everything is satisfied through prayer, which is why the instruction here is to be vigilant in prayer. Some are vigilant for gossip or retribution or accusation as opposed to being vigilant in prayer. Pass everything though the filter of prayer and you will end up being thankful. The relationship between thankfulness and prayer can be evidenced within all these passages: 2Co 1:11; Eph 1:16; Phil 4:6; Col 1:3; Col 4:2; 1Th 1:2; 1Ti 2:1; 2Ti 1:3; Phil 1:4.
If you are not filled with thanksgiving it is probably because you are trying to be the intermediary between people, instead of dedicating everything by prayer first, and then waiting on the Lord to see how you should engage yourself in the things you need to do. Seeking counsel is also an important part of engaging yourself in troublesome matters, after praying.
Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
The need to pray for open doors in our ministry is evidenced here. We all hold the mystery of the Gospel if we are Kingdom citizens, so there is a need for us to spread this message in effective form. By praying we are asking God to help us do His will and most importantly we are seeking His guidance.
When we speak of prayer and God's responses to our prayers we need to talk about providence. Certainly God responds to our prayers most of the time through His providence (Mat 21:22; John 16:24; 1John 3:22), that is, through direct intervention or influence in our environment in our favor (Rom 8:28). The skeptic will say, "It is coincidence"; the mystic will say, "It is the stars and the planets"; but the disciple will know it is His Lord making a way for the Gospel to be sown.
We can see examples of God’s providence in the life of all the Patriarchs, like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, etc.
All these verses have to do with God’s providence: Job 10:12; 2Co 9:8-10; Acts 14:17; Luke 22:35; Luke 12:24-28; Mat 10:29-31; Mat 6:30-33; Mat 5:45.
Notice how God helped the Patriarchs since they were seeking to do His will. If we desire to work with God we have to make sure our purpose is the same as God’s, then you will experience His providence in your life, as He takes care of you and opens doors for you to deliver the Gospel message. If your desire is for selfish reasons, then you will ask God but you will not receive (James 4:3).
Colossians 4:4
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
More correctly, the translation ought to read: “that I may make it manifest (phaneroo), as I ought to speak.” The Gospel message needs to be proclaimed. It needs to be put out there clearly, so it can get to work in the hearts of men. Isaiah 55:11 and Hebrew 4:12-13 show us how the words of God accomplish their work, but in order for God to accomplish this purpose His words need to be made manifest. By who? Well, we are the ones commissioned to do it! Which is why Paul asks for prayers that he may do it as he should! 1The 1:5 and John 16:8 shows that it is the Spirit working with us when we preach. He is the one who convicts the world as we make manifest the message.
Phaneroo – to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self)
Colossians 4:5
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Here is a call to do things in wisdom. Not only for your own sake, but we are ambassadors, in other words, people are seeing an example in us and we need to set that example and not forget that Christ is at work in us to bring life to those who don’t have it.
You have a responsibility as an ambassador: 2Co 5:18-20.
Let people see the death of Jesus in you so that the life of Jesus may save them! The entire chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians is a beautiful exposition of how this is done, focusing on 2Cor 4:10-12. Paul explains what Jesus does in us in chapter 4 so that we can have a powerful influence over others who are not saved through our ministry of reconciliation in chapter 5.
How do we make the most of every opportunity? Well, Paul just told you:
1- Pray being watchful and thankful
2- Pray specifically for open doors in your ministry
3- Proclaim the message clearly when you see the open doors
4- Act in wisdom when in the presence of unbelievers (and Christians too!)
Those who make use of every opportunity are the ones who multiply their talents in the Lord and are fruitful.
Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Here’s how to act wisely. Our conversation (logos) must be always (pantote):
1- Full of grace (charis) – graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy). The emotional (empathetic) aspect of our conversation. The person who speaks gracefully does so transparently. In other words, to be graceful is to be open, showing our openness in positive speech, which is inviting to others to join in with you since you seem to be honest and have nothing to hide. You volunteer information about yourself that you know others can relate to in an honest, positive and inviting way. I.e., how God saved you from your past, or how God is helping you through a present situation you may have. See Prov 22:11; Prov 15:1, 23; Prov 16:24; Prov 25:11.
2- Seasoned (artuo: spiced up) with salt (halas: prudent, in the figurative sense) – The intuitive (personal, relational) aspect of our conversation. See Prov 12:18, 25; Mark 9:50. Here’s where we use the current events, or the experiences shared in conversation to relate to the person and his surrounding to eventually bring in the Gospel. Use everyday settings at work or at home to connect to the person in a personal way. I.e., how Jesus used the everyday situations and things in life to teach about God’s Kingdom. The parables are the seasoning that helps us remember God’s words vividly. The use of emotional word pictures, songs, and other visual aids season your words so the person can remember what you told them. Prudent means: Wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense. Careful in regard to one's own interests; provident. Careful about one's conduct; circumspect. Make sure that what you says is not rash, harsh, rude, off-color, tasteless or offensive.
3- Preemptive and Prepared – the goal is to understand (eido) how to answer all people. The objective part of our conversation. See Prov 20:15; Prov 31:26; Prov 16:21; Prov 17:27; Prov 18:4; Prov 22:12; Prov 30:6. Particularly Titus 2:8; 1Peter 3:15-16, which encourage us to prepare ourselves in the study of the Word of God that we may answer accurately and with a clear conscience, knowing that we are justified by God and not by men: 1Thes 2:4-8 and 2Tim 2:15-16. Preemptive: Undertaken or initiated to deter or prevent an anticipated, usually unpleasant situation or occurrence.
Logos – something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
Pantote – every when, i.e. at all times:--alway(-s), ever(-more)
Colossians 4:7
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
CLOSING REMARKS – Paul’s
Mighty Men
Tychicus was an Asian companion of Paul, meaning he
accompanied Paul from
The following verses show Paul's relationship with his "disciples" or more correctly, his fellow-servants (sundoulos: ministering to the same Master), who were a comfort to him. He taught them how to love with his own life and is using them to encourage others in Colosse. Tychicus was obviously loved by Paul and considered a valuable asset to his ministry. He sent him where he himself cannot go since he knows about his faith – he’s a faithful servant (diakonos). Is that how others consider you, particularly those who are fellow servants (leading) in the Lord’s church?
Colossians 4:8
I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our {8 Some manuscripts <that he may know about your>} circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
Tychicus is an encourager. Paul only sends people to represent him in the churches when he knows they are:
1- Faithful (pistos): objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:--believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.
2- Servants (sundoulos): co-slave, i.e. servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine):--fellowservant.
3- Encouragers (parakaleo): to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
Colossians 4:9
He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
Here is evidence that Philemon was amongst those in Colosse
and
Both Tychichus and Onesimus were Paul’s Postmen, telling the news concerning Paul and the churches.
Colossians 4:10
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
Aristarchus was another brother who accompanied Paul during
his mission trips (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Philemon 1:24). He was imprisoned with
Paul in
Colossians 4:11
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are
the only Jews among my fellow workers for the
Both Mark and Justus worked with Paul in
The only Jews who loved Paul in
1- Aristarchus – his devoted comrade
2- Mark – the recovered friend
3- Jesus called Justus
Richard Bagget –
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
An example of a prayer warrior and servant (doulos: a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):--bond(-man), servant.), Epaphras, who was a prisoner with Paul and founded the Colossian church. He wrestled (agonizomai: to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something):--fight, labor fervently, strive) in prayer, which is what a prayer warrior does so that others may stand firm in all the will of God, mature (teleios: complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter: completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.) and fully assured (pleroo: to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:--accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.).
Is this how you pray for those involved in your ministry? That they may be qualified fellow servants, mature and able to do the work alongside with you? Perhaps instead of finding fault with those alongside with you, you need to agonize in prayer for them and yourself.
Colossians 4:13
I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for
those at
Colossians 4:14
Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
Luke was also with Paul in
Demas later deserts Paul (falls away: 2Tim 4:10).
Paul’s three Gentile friends:
1- Epaphras – the earnest minister
2- Luke – the beloved physician
3- Demas – the backsliding companion
Richard Bagget –
Colossians 4:15
Give my greetings to the brothers at
Evidence of House churches used in Colosse, along with Philemon’s and other house churches used in the first century (Philemon 1:2; Rom 15:5; 1Co 16:19).
Colossians 4:16
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also
read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from
A missing letter? Letter to the Laodiceans was supposed to be exchanged with the Colossian letter. Probably similar in nature to the letter of the Ephesians and Philemon. All four letters were carried by Tychicus and Onesimus to those churches.
Colossians 4:17
Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
Also in Phil 1:2. Perhaps Archippus was being a bit lackadaisical in his commitment to the ministry. The work you have in the church is given to you by God.
Two local soldiers of Christ in Colosse:
1- Nympha – the church builder
2- Archippus – the faltering minister
Richard Bagget –
Colossians 4:18
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.