English · KJV

Colossians 4

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00
1
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. ​

Instructions on Prayer and Conduct 2–6

2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; ​
3
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: ​
4
That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. ​
6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. ​

Paul's Messengers and Ministry Team 7–9

7
All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: ​
8
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9
With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. ​

Greetings from Paul's Companions 10–14

10
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) ​
11
And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. ​
12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ​
13
For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
14
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. ​

Final Greetings and Closing Commands 15–18

15
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. ​
16
And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ​
17
And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. ​
18
The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Colossians 4

Verse 1

that which is just and equal — 'Equal' is isotes, fairness, a word found only here and in 2 Cor 8:14 ('equality'). Masters owe their servants what is right, 'knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven', the reason also given in Eph 6:9: 'your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.'

Verse 2

Continue in prayer — Proskartereo, to persist, is the word for the first believers who 'continued with one accord in prayer' (Acts 1:14) and for 'continuing instant in prayer' (Rom 12:12). 'Watch' (gregoreo) is the Lord's word in Gethsemane, 'Watch and pray' (Matt 26:41); here it is joined to thanksgiving.

Verse 3

a door of utterance — Literally a door 'of the word' (logos), an opening for the message, as in 1 Cor 16:9: 'a great door and effectual is opened unto me'. What is to be spoken is 'the mystery of Christ', and Paul asks for it while 'in bonds', as in Eph 6:19–20.

Verse 5

them that are without — Exo, outsiders, the term for those outside the church (1 Cor 5:12–13; 1 Thess 4:12). 'Redeeming' is exagorazo, to buy up, and 'the time' is kairos, the fitting season or opportunity. Eph 5:16 has the same phrase, 'Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.'

Verse 6

seasoned with salt — Artyo, to season, is used only here, in Mark 9:50 and in Luke 14:34. Offerings were seasoned with salt (Lev 2:13), and Christ's 'Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another' (Mark 9:50) uses the same figure. Speech 'with grace' fits the answer to 'every man' (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).

Verse 7

All my state — Tychicus, 'of Asia' (Acts 20:4), carries the news by mouth. Eph 6:21 describes him in nearly the same words, 'a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord', and gives him the same errand. Paul sends him later to Ephesus (2 Tim 4:12) and names him as a possible envoy to Titus (Titus 3:12).

Verse 9

Onesimus — The man Paul calls 'my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds' and sent back to Philemon (Philem 10). Here he is 'a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you', a man of Colossae. Philem 16 gives the same change of standing: 'Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved'.

Verse 10

Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas — The John 'whose surname was Mark' whom Barnabas took to Cyprus after the sharp parting from Paul (Acts 15:37–39). 'Sister's son' (anepsios) occurs only here. Paul asks that he be received, and later calls him 'profitable to me for the ministry' (2 Tim 4:11).

Verse 11

of the circumcision — Jewish believers. 'These only' points to the three named, Aristarchus, Marcus and Jesus, as the only fellowworkers of that kind with Paul. 'Justus' is also the name of two other men (Acts 1:23; 18:7). 'Comfort' (parigoria) is found only here in the New Testament.

Verse 12

labouring fervently — The verb is the athlete's word for striving in a contest, used of Paul's own work in Col 1:29, 'I also labour, striving'. Epaphras does it 'in prayers'. He is the 'dear fellowservant' from whom the Colossians learned (Col 1:7); 'perfect' (teleios) and 'complete' (pleroo) name what he asks for them.

Verse 14

Luke, the beloved physician — The only verse that gives Luke his trade (iatros, physician). Philem 24 lists Demas and Lucas together among 'my fellowlabourers'. Later Paul writes 'Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world' and 'Only Luke is with me' (2 Tim 4:10–11).

Verse 15

the church which is in his house — Nymphas is named only here. Churches met in houses elsewhere: Priscilla and Aquila's (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19) and Philemon's (Philem 2). The 'brethren which are in Laodicea' are greeted along with him; the letter goes on to speak of that church in v.16.

Verse 16

the epistle from Laodicea — Apostolic letters were read aloud to the assembled church, as in 1 Thess 5:27: 'that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren'. This letter is not named, and no book of the Bible bears the title. Peter later places Paul's epistles with 'the other scriptures' (2 Pet 3:16).

Verse 17

the ministry which thou hast received — Archippus is called 'our fellowsoldier' in Philem 2. 'Ministry' is diakonia, service, and 'received in the Lord' says who gave it. 'Fulfil' is pleroo, to fill full, the verb of Acts 12:25, 'when they had fulfilled their ministry'.

Verse 18

Remember my bonds — The greeting 'by the hand of me Paul' is Paul's own writing, the 'token in every epistle' named in 2 Thess 3:17 (also 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11). To 'remember' (mnemoneuo) his 'bonds' is the same duty as Heb 13:3, 'Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them'.