COLOSSIANS -- CHAPTER FOUR
(Vs 1) Note: Verse one should have been included in the preceding
paragraph.
"Masters" -- Those who owned slaves. The gospel did not
abolish slavery. It did demand good treatment by the
Master. Slavery, at this time, was very deplorable.
The slave had no recourse to ill treatment.
"just and equal" -- treat them fairly; do not defraud them;
do not demand more of them than they can do.
"a Master in heaven" -- Remember, you, also, serve another;
one to whom an accounting will be made. Remember,
there is no respecter of persons with Him.
(vs 2) "in prayer" -- they are admonished to "continue" in prayer;
not a hit and miss affair. The life of the Christian
is a continual effort. (1 Thess. 5:17). We must
develop the habit of regular prayer. Talk to God.
(vs 3) "for us" -- Paul requests their prayers in his behalf; that
the Word might have free course; not for his personal
safety.
"a door" -- opportunities. 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12. Paul's
great concern was to see the gospel proclaimed in all
places.
"mystery of Christ" -- to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Eph. 3:1-7.
"in bonds" -- Preaching to the Gentiles had brought about his
bonds.
(vs 4) Paul felt an urgency to speak the Gospel, and only the
Gospel. This verse clearly infers that we cannot add
to nor take away from that message. Gal. 1:6-10. It
and it alone has the power to save. Rom. 1:16. How
needful it is to teach that message.
(vs 5) "walk" -- Live. Our conduct towards those out of Christ
should be Christ-like. 1 Pet. 3:1-4. By our lives we
lead others to Christ, as they see the word taught by
the life we live.
"redeeming the time" -- buying it; using it; avail ourselves
of every opportunity.
(vs 6) "speech" -- The tongue must be controlled at all times. It
must be wholesome, pure, pleasant. Our speech should
never be harsh, abusive, nor corrosive.
"grace" -- favorable.
"seasoned with salt" -- tasteful, good to accept.
"to answer each one" -- Especially is this true when seeking
to teach someone, to win that person to Christ.
NOTE: Each one should study and have a good knowledge of
God's message, that we may be able to answer any
false teacher or wrong doctrine. REMEMBER: We are not
trying to win an argument; but to convert a soul.
(vs 7) "Tychicus" -- a fellow traveler with Paul. Acts 20:4.
Chosen to carry letter to Ephesus. Eph. 6:21-22.
"all my affairs" -- Paul's personal affairs would be made
known through Tychicus. Paul had complete confidence
in his fellow-worker.
"Minister" -- Tychicus was not a minister of Paul, but of
Christ. cf. 1 Thess. 3:2.
"fellow-servant" -- both served the Lord.
(vs 8) "sent" -- Tychicus carried the letter to Colossae. Eph. 6:22.
"comfort" -- How encouraging it must have been for the
Colossians to hear Paul was still alive and able to
write to them.
(vs 9) "Onesimus" -- A run-away slave of Philemon of Colossae whom
Paul converted in Rome, and returned him to his
master. Philemon 10-16.
"brother" -- in Christ; "one of you," a Child of God.
(vs 10) "Aristarchus" -- A Macedonian, had accompanied Paul in his
return from Macedonia. Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2. We
know little of him, except that he must have been a
faithful helper of Paul. How close they must have
been.
"Mark" -- At one time he was rejected by Paul to go with him
on his second missionary journey. Now, Mark was
useful for ministering. Paul was very firm in
refusing to allow Mark to accompany him at that time,
but Paul shows the character of a Christian; one of
forbearance and forgiveness. He now recommends Mark
to the church in Colossae. Also, 2 Tim. 4:11.
(vs 11) "Jesus (Justus)" -- only mention of him. A Jew.
"these only" -- Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus. Only these
three Jews had stood by Paul. Other Jews most likely
had been aloof, stood back. Some Jewish brethren in
Rome had sought to make Paul suffer while in Rome.
Phil. 1:15-18.
"comfort unto me" -- These three had been of great help to
the apostle while he was a prisoner in Rome.
(vs 12) "Epaphras" -- All we know of him.
"one of you" -- From Colossae.
"a servant of Christ" -- What a wonderful compliment.
"in his prayers" -- Wise is the man or woman who has learned
the value of prayer. "Striving" for them. Concerned
about the church in Colossae and the dangers of false
teachers.
"perfect" -- fullgrown, mature.
"in the will of God" -- The only way for man to be mature,
fullgrown. Paul has made numerous references to the
need to trust in God's revealed truths.
(vs 13) Epaphras had been of much help to the brethren in these
cities. Laodicea and Hierapolis were on the opposite side
of the Lycus Valley, about 12 miles from Colossae.
(vs 14) "Luke" -- His name appears 3 times in N.T.-- 2 Tim. 4:11;
Philemon 24; Col. 4:14. The writer of the book of Acts
and the book of Luke. Though his name does not appear in
the book of Acts, by the use of the pronouns "we," "us"
and "they," it can be determined when Luke was in Paul's
company. (Acts 16:10 and 17:1; 20:5, 6, 13 and 21:18;
27;1.) He was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome.
"the beloved physician" -- No doubt, of great service to
Paul. What a tender reference.
"Demas" -- later forsook Paul-- 2 Tim. 4:10. "Having loved
this present world." What a warning to each one of
us. There will never come a time that we are not
subject to the onslaughts of Satan. Those who seem
grounded in the faith can fall by the wayside and
deny their Master.
Satan continues to take his hostages. There are
those who after years of faithful service go back
into the beggarly things of this fleshly world. What
a tragedy!!!
(vs 15) "Laodicea" -- Capital of Phrygia, in Asia Minor, just south
of Colossae.
"Nymphas" -- Only thing we know of him.
"their house" -- most likely refers to Nymphas and his
family. It was a common thing for the church to meet
in private dwellings. (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19;
Philemon 2.)
(vs 16) The language of this epistle no doubt also applies to the
other churches in the same region, especially to the
church in Laodicea. Each congregation faced the same
problems.
(vs 17) "Archippus" -- Called "our fellow-soldier" in Philemon 2.
"in the Lord" -- in the work of the Lord.
Archippus is reminded to fulfill his ministry. Be
faithful and complete what he had been sent to do.
(vs 18) It seems that Paul often dictated his letters to another,
who wrote the instructions. He then signed his name as a
validation and approval of that which was written. Note
2 Thess. 3:17.
"Remember my bonds" -- Paul asked for their prayers in behalf
of his bonds. Paul must have felt a great burden because
he was not free to go and proclaim the gospel freely.
"Grace be with you" -- May God's love and mercy be with you.
May you receive His unsearchable mercy. What higher
motive could the apostle wish for them.
SUMMARY OF THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS
1. Christ the head of all things in creation and redemption (1:1-29)
(a) Thanksgiving for the faith and love of the Colossians (1:3-8)
(b) Prayer for their progress in the knowledge of Christ (1:9-23)
(c) Joy in his sufferings and labors for Christ (1:24-29)
2. Be not led away from Christ (2:1-23)
(a) How important to stay near to Christ (2:1-7)
(b) Reasons why they should be stedfast, not drawn away (2:8-15
(c) Warnings against ritualistic prohibitions and angel worship
(2:16-19)
(d) They had died with Christ.
3. Live as those should live who have risen with Christ (3:1---)
(a) Fellowship with Christ
(b) Exhortation, negative and positive
(c) Household relations
(d) Prayer and conduct
4. Closing exhortations
(a) Personal, etc.
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