Colossians 4:1-18

Colossians 4:1:

^4:1lords, you must present the righteous-thing and the equality to (your) slaves, having known² that also you have (the) Lord in heaven.

Continuing in the same context as Colossians 3:17-25, Paul now addresses the lords who are holy-people (sanctified-people, Christians, saints, children of God) regarding the Christian work relationship.

The lords (masters, employers), you must present (have/hold beside, offer)…:

the righteous-thing (that-which is righteous, just) and
the equality (that-which is of an equal state, the same proportion, equity, what is equitable)…

…to your slaves (bond-servants, employees). Why? Because you knew and you still know (perceive, see) that also you presently and actively have the Lord/Master in heaven (within the sphere of action of God’s spirit realm).

The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of every limb of the one spiritual body of Christ, including employers and employees in the work category. It does not matter what different kinds of work are being done by any limb during the everyday living of life awaiting Christ's coming to gather all holy-people together with him.

[Reference: Matthew 20:4; II Corinthians 8:13-15; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:17.]

Next, Paul again addresses all the holy and believing brothers in Christ in Colosse, which is also applicable to every Christian today no matter where we live.

Verses 2-4:

^.2You must be strong with prayer wakefully-watching in it in thankfulness, ^.3unitedly also praying concerning us in order that God may open to us a door of the word to utter-forth the mystery of the Christ, because-of which also I was bound², ^.4in order that I may manifest it as it is necessary (for) me to utter-forth.

You (all of you holy-people) must be strong with prayer (persevere, continue with constant attendance towards your communication to/with God, your general speaking towards/with God). This does not refer to the rambling-on of words which are repeated over and over and over again and the mind is thinking of what's on television, or who won last-night's football game, etc.

Holy-people can pray in two different ways:

1. prayer with our understanding mind - which is praying to God in a language that you know and speak and can understand the words which you are saying to God because you are deciding in your own mind what words you are saying; and

2. prayer with/in spirit (explained in chapters 12-14 of my study on I Corinthians).

You must be strong with prayer…

wakefully watching in it (being watchful, keeping awake in/within/during prayer, figuratively - have your eyes open, be spiritually alert and sensitive to what God wants you to know and do)
in thankfulness (within the expression of gratitude for the grace you have already received),…

…unitedly (in union together at the same time) also you must be praying concerning us.

The Apostle Paul asked these Colossian Christians to pray for himself and Timothy. He did not consider it an embarrassment to ask other holy-people to pray to God about himself and Timothy! “…Unitedly also you must be praying concerning us for the purpose and result that God would open (cause to stand open) to/for us a door of the word (metaphorically referring to access, opportunity, admission pertaining to the spoken-account, a door pertaining to the word) to utter-forth (speak) the mystery of the Christ (the secret of the Anointed-one; Colossians 1:26-2:3) – on account of which mystery also I was bound and am still bound (tied, fastened) – for the purpose and result that I would manifest it (evidence it, bring it to light, show it forth) as it is necessary for me to utter-forth (it is binding, it's a 'must,' an obligation, I ought to speak the mystery to others).

The word “mystery” throughout Paul’s letters means “secret.” A mystery contains the details that are known and can be understood by those involved in it and by those to whom it has been revealed – it is not inexplicable to those involved in it. Paul and Timothy recognized that they needed God's help to open a door of the word so that they could speak the mystery of the Christ, which Paul has been teaching about in this letter. They wanted to do things God's way and allow Him to open a door - they were not going to do things their own way and force their way into certain areas without God's permission, etc. Paul says that it is on account of the mystery pertaining to Christ that he remains physically bound in prison. He had been imprisoned by people who did not want him speaking and making known the secret that God had revealed to him regarding Christ.

Paul was in prison while he was receiving the revelation from God or from the Lord Jesus Christ writing this letter to the Colossian Christians. He did not allow his physical environment to disturb his mind and thinking, his prayer-life, his communications to, with and from God or the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wanted to continue to do what God and the Lord Jesus Christ wanted him to do because, as Paul wrote at the very beginning of this letter, he was an apostle of Christ Jesus by means of the intention of God. Uttering-forth the mystery of the Christ was part of Paul's duty, work-function, assignment, within the one body of Christ.

[Reference: Acts 1:14, 2:42 and 46, 6:4, 8:13, 10:7, 14:27, 20:31, 28:16-31; Romans 8:26 and 27, 12:12, 13:6; I Corinthians 16:9 and 13; Ephesians 3:2-12, 6:18-20; I Thessalonians 5:25; II Thessalonians 3:1.]

Verses 5 and 6:

^.5You must walk in wisdom towards the (people) outside, redeeming the time, ^.6your word always in grace having been seasoned² with salt to have known² how it is necessary (for) you to answer each one.

You holy-people must walk (literally: move the feet around, go on foot; figuratively: walk around during the everyday living of life, behave or conduct yourselves) in wisdom (within the sphere of action of the skillful or expert application of personal knowledge) towards the people who are outside of the one spiritual body of Christ (the non-Christians, those people who have not yet or who may never receive the gift of holy spirit from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ because they have not believed what God has given to be believed regarding Himself and His son). Christians are not to be stupid when interacting with non-Christians.

And, you are to be redeeming the time (fully buying, purchasing the specific time-period, occasion, season – as a person buys in a market-place and pays the correct price of the item, purchasing the time outright; don't allow any person or devil-spirit to take your time to carry out God's Word away from you), your word always in grace (the account that you speak should constantly be within the sphere of action of what is freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part) having already seasoned and continuing to season the word that you speak (fitly prepared for that situation) with/in salt to have known and continue to know (perceive, see) how it is necessary for you to answer each one (how it is binding, it's a 'must,' an obligation, you ought to judicially reply to questions asked by/from/to each individual of you, one by one).

"Salt" is used here as a figure of speech which is very beautiful. In olden times in the Eastern countries, and still today in certain places, a newborn baby, the son of a king, nobility or royalty, would be "salted" (and "swaddled"). To be salted means that the newborn baby is bathed with water which has a small bit of salt in it, and this salt signifies that his parents intend to rear him to be truthful and honest before God in his words as he grows up into manhood and then he will be ready to take the responsibilities which his father would give him in that kingdom being truthful and honest in his words toward God and toward his people. Also, if one were to salt food in preparation for eating, it would have to be salted correctly for the prepared food to taste good, if too much or too little salt were used then the food would not be enjoyable to/for the one eating it. Salt is also used for its preserving quality.

Now we can appreciate what Paul wrote to the Colossian holy-people: …your word always in grace having been seasoned and continuing seasoned with salt to have known and continue to know how it is necessary (for) you to answer each one.

[Reference: Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34 and 35; Ephesians 4:29, 5:15-17; I Thessalonians 4:12.]

Verses 7-9:

^.7Tychicus, the loved¹ brother and believing minister and slave-together in (the) Lord, will make-known all-things according to me to you, ^.8whom I sent towards you with-a-view-to this same-thing in order that you may know the-things concerning us and he may encourage your hearts, ^.9together with Onesimus, the believing and loved¹ brother who is from you, they will make-known all-things to you, the-things here.

Look at the care and concern Paul has for the people to whom he has taught God's good-message. He knew that they would be thinking of him especially when this letter would arrive to them, and they would want to know how he is and what was going on with him, and this would help them to be able to pray specifically with their understanding to God concerning him.

Paul writes: Tychicus…

who is the loved¹ brother (the word "loved¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love - he is our brother because we all have the same holy spirit-life within us and God is our Father, and he is loved by God and by myself with God's kind of love) and
believing minister (adjectively described as: faithful, trusting relative-to God, a believer; a believing person who serves to benefit others, not 'being-subject' to them but doing work to bring profit to them, one who carries-out his day-by-day ministerial-duties, one who has been given functions of service) and
slave-together (bond slave or servant in the service category in conjunction with myself and Timothy, our joint or co slave) within the sphere of action of the Lord (the Master who is the Lord Jesus Christ)…

…he will make personally known to you all the things according to me.

Tychicus whom I sent towards you (past tense because by the time this letter is received he will have already been sent) with a view to (into, directed to) this same-thing (this very thing, thing itself) which is for the purpose and result that you would personally know (a truly active and relative knowing) the things about us (myself and Timothy, and the other holy-people with me [some Greek texts read: 'he may know the-things concerning you']) and he would encourage your hearts (call you beside him as a concerned father or mother would call their children close to them under their arms so as to help them to do that which is right, exhort the center of your beings).

I sent Tychicus in conjunction with Onesimus, the believing and Godly-loved brother who is out-from you (he comes from Colosse) – they will make personally known all the things going on here to you.

We should note that Paul makes sure that the readers and hearers of this letter know what God's and his opinion of Tychicus and of Onesimus were at that time. How tender and loving of Paul to send Tychicus and Onesimus to them and to let them know why he sent them.

[Reference: Ephesians 6:21 and 22; Colossians 1:7; Philemon 10.]

Verses 10 and 11:

^.10Aristarchus the captive-together with me greets you, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas concerning whom you received commandments if-ever he may come towards you you must accept him, ^.11and Jesus the (person) being said (as) Justus, the (holy-people) being out-from circumcision, these-people only (are) workers-together with (me) into the kingdom of God, the-people-who were caused-to-become a solace to me.

Paul continues closing out this letter with greetings and includes teaching: Aristarchus, who is being held captive as a prisoner-of-war in conjunction with me, greets you (salutes you as drawing you to himself); and Mark who is Barnabas' nephew (his sister's son), about whom you have already received commandments from me that if it should happen that he would come (go) towards you then you must accept him (welcome him, receive him with open arms)….

This phrase "concerning whom you received commandments if-ever he may come towards you you must accept him" could refer to either Mark or Barnabas, but it seems more likely to refer to Mark. Why would Paul need to write this? Because some years before he wrote this letter Barnabas had disputed and argued with Paul so bitterly that he stopped his ministry with Paul even though God had told Paul and Barnabas to work together to teach God's Word to people, but Barnabas left and took his nephew Mark with him [see Acts chapters 12-15 for more details]. However, Mark at a later time traveled back into Paul's company to help Paul continue with his ministry.

Paul continues: and Jesus who is spoken of by the name Justus (so as not to get confused about whom we are referring to), these three men – Aristarchus and Mark and Justus – are of the circumcision background (in other words, they are of the Judean/Israeli background having previously become physically circumcised to demonstrate their adherence to the old covenant before they believed what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, sometime after the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2, and thus received the gift of holy spirit becoming holy-people). These holy-people alone are workers together with me (they are expending energy in conjunction with me, my joint or co workers) regarding/into/for the kingdom of God (all that is contained within God's sovereignty, His kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc, which of course is holy and spiritual because God is the Holy Spirit) and, by saying and doing what they are saying and doing, they were caused to become a solace to me (they came to pass to be paregoric, a soothing medicine to me, they relieve me of any irritation which may have otherwise affected me during this time).

[Reference: Acts 4:36, 19:29, 20:4, 27:2; Romans 16:7; I Corinthians 3:9; II Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24.]

Verses 12 and 13:

^.12Epaphras greets you, the (person) from you, a slave of Christ always contesting on your behalf in the prayers in order that you may be caused-to-stand complete even having been fully-assured² in all (the) intention of God, ^.13for I bear him witness that he has much pain on your behalf and the (holy-people) in Laodicea and the (holy-people) in Hierapolis.

Epaphras salutes you, who is out-from you (comes from Colosse), who is a slave of Christ (Christ's bond-servant, he serves as a slave to his master, the resurrected Christ) constantly contesting…. The verb translated “contesting” is like being in a place of contest where there are two opposing parties conflicting against each other in order to be the one to gain the prize at the end of the contest. The usage of athletic terminology draws attention to holy-people and the truth of being together moving in the direction of the same objective, being on the same team in the same contest, not a different one or on a different team.

Epaphras greets you, who is from you, a slave of Christ always contesting on behalf of you in the prayers (within his communications to and with God, during his general speaking towards/with God) for the purpose and result that you holy-people would be caused to stand (made to stand, as opposed to falling) complete (perfect by the ultimate arrival of the state of completeness, the ending-issue) – how would this happen? – emphatically by you having already been fully-assured and still being fully-assured (caused to be filled-up with assurance, have the full carriage or carrying capacity, filled-up to the measure and so having the full contents of assurance, conviction and confidence [some Greek texts have the verb "to be filled/made-full"]) within the sphere of action of all the intention of God (every bit of God's will).

In truth, I presently and actively bear him witness (I attest with information which I personally have about Epaphras and therefore I state with authority) that he has much pain (a lot of labor or stress resulting in pain [some Greek texts have the word "zeal"]) on your behalf and on behalf of the holy-people in Laodicea (a city close-by and north-west of Colosse) and the holy-people in Hierapolis (a city close-by and north-east of Laodicea).

[Reference: Romans 4:21, 14:5; I Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 1:6-8, 28 and 29, 2:2; Philemon 23.]

Verse 14:

^.14Luke the healer, the loved¹ (healer), greets you, and Demas.

Luke the healer (his profession is that he helps to heal people of their physical sickness, like a doctor or physician today), the one who is loved with God's kind of love by God and myself, greets you. Also Demas greets you.

[Reference: II Timothy 4:10 and 11; Philemon 24.]

Verses 15-17:

^.15You must greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church according to her house.^.16Also, whenever the letter may be read with you, you must make (it) in order that it may also be read in the church of (the) Laodiceans and the (letter) from Laodicea in order that also you may read. ^.17Also, you must say to Archippus, "You must observe the ministry which you received in (the) Lord in order that you may fulfill it."

You must greet the brothers (all those who have received the gift of holy spirit, holy-people) in Laodicea, also Nymphas and the church that is in her house.

This woman Nymphas used-to gather an assembly of holy-people in her house from time to time so that they could sing and pray and hear manifestation of holy spirit (refer to I Corinthians 12-14) and share and teach God's Word, and have meals together, etc – what a wonderful church to be recognized by the Apostle Paul in this letter which he is writing by revelation!

Paul continues: also (and, in addition) at whatever time the letter (this epistle being written at the moment) would be read with you (beside you, in your presence out-loud by someone) then you must make it (do what it takes) for the purpose and result that this letter would also be read in the church of the Laodicean holy-people and the letter which the Laodiceans have received and read must be taken out-from there and brought to you in Colosse for the purpose and result that also you may read that letter.

Most of the letters (epistles) which Paul wrote to the different churches of Christians were encyclical, which means that they were passed-around from church to church and from area to area so that all the Christians could read or hear and learn from them - they were not specifically and only for one assembly excluding other assemblies. Even if some particular sections of them were specific to particular churches or individual Christians within a particular church, other churches and other Christians could also learn from the teachings that Paul wrote by revelation from God and/or from the Lord Jesus Christ. This is also why we holy-people/Christians today may read or hear these letters and be taught and learn from them regarding God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the gift of holy spirit, etc.

Paul continues: in addition, you must say to Archippus (tell him at one time only but not repeating it over and over again), "You must observe the ministry which you received in the Lord in order that you may fulfill it." The word translated “ministry” is described above. You (Archippus) must presently and actively observe the ministry (be mentally-aware and contemplate the ministry, even though you may not physically see anything with your physical eyes, which makes good sense here as a person cannot actually see the ministry as a person would see a physical object with his eyes), i.e., the ministry which you received (you took beside/alongside yourself, you willingly received it so as to use and manifest it among people) within the sphere of action of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is the efficient and instrumental cause of you receiving this ministry) for the purpose and result that you would fulfill it (fill it up, accomplish it).

[Reference: Romans 16:5; I Thessalonians 5:27; Philemon 2.]

Verse 18:

^.18The greeting of Paul with my hand; you must remember my bonds. (May) the grace (be) with you.

Paul specifically marks the end of this letter with his own hand-writing showing definitely that this is his greeting with his (the word "my" is emphasized) hand, thus authenticating that this is a letter from Paul, the apostle, and not from somebody else who may have wanted to deceive the holy-people. Even though the bulk of some of Paul's letters may have physically been written by his assistant, the words which were written are words which Paul spoke receiving them by revelation from God and/or from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul's own hand-written indication at the end of the letter was his safeguard against the readers and hearers being misled by a counterfeit letter. This letter is genuine.

Then Paul writes: you must remember (call to your minds and have in memory) my bonds (bands, my imprisonment; refer to verse 3 above). Why ask them to remember his bonds? So as to remember to pray to God to help Paul during that time, and perhaps they could help him in the physical category somehow also, e.g. send him clothes, money to buy food, rent, etc.

Paul's opening address to the holy and believing brothers in Christ in Colosse included grace, and now as he closes this letter he expresses his prayerful desire: may it be that the grace (the unmerited or undeserved favor which is the grace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ) is in company and association with you during the everyday living of your lives.

[Reference: Acts 28:30 and 31; I Corinthians 16:21; Philippians 1:7. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

(May) the grace (be) with you.