DAY #298: Colossians 4:1-18

Paul reminds us that it is our resposiblity to pray; prayer was their lifeline to God. To devote themselves to prayer meant that they should be persistent and unwilling to give up even though their prayers may seem to go unanswered. Paul’s advice to “keep on praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) has the same meaning. Their devotion to prayer did not mean that they should spend all their time on their knees, but that they should have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude would be built upon acknowledging their dependence on God, realizing his presence within them, and determining to obey him fully. Then they would find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.
Having an alert mind may have been referring to not dozing off, to being alert in their devotion, or to being alert for God’s answers and then thankful when they came. More likely, he was focusing on the anticipation of the Lord’s coming. The Lord could return at any time, so believers should be found alert and waiting.
As Paul had mentioned several times (in 1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15-17), the believers ought always to be thankful. Thankfulness implies understanding all that God has done and anticipating what he promises.
4:3 The Colossian believers could have a part in Paul’s worldwide ministry by praying for him and his coworkers. Paul requested prayer for opportunities to preach in spite of his imprisonment, so that he could continue to proclaim God’s secret plan—that the message is also for the Gentiles. Although Paul was in chains for preaching the gospel, the chains could not stop the message.
4:4 Paul asked for the ability to proclaim the message clearly. In other words, Paul wanted to be able to “reveal” the mystery so that many could hear and believe. This was his compulsion; he had been called (Acts 9:15; 26:17-20).
4:5 Paul reminded the believers of their responsibility to be wise in the way they acted toward those who are not Christians. Paul was observing that while the Christian fellowship does (and should) make some allowances for the mistakes of its own, the world will not. Christians’ behavior toward unbelievers should be above reproach. The believers were not to hide from the world in a secret organization; instead, they were to live in the world. They were to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel with unbelievers. Paul was communicating a sense of urgency (see Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 5:15-16).
4:6 The spoken word would be the communication method; therefore, the believers should be wise in how they spoke. Speech that is gracious is kind and courteous. Speech that is effective is interesting (as opposed to dull), invites interaction (as opposed to refusing to listen and discuss), adds “spice” to a discussion (by penetrating to deeper levels), and is pure and wholesome (as opposed to “filthy language,” 3:8). Believers should always be ready to answer questions about their faith and be ready to share words of personal testimony (see also 1 Peter 3:15-16).
No Christian should have a dull, tiresome, know-it-all monologue of his faith. Instead, Christians, who have the most exciting news in the world to share, should be able to share that message with excitement, ability to invoke interest, an understanding of the basics, a willingness to listen and discuss, and a desire to answer everyone’s questions graciously.
Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings / 4:7-18
Paul often closed his letters by sending personal greetings from himself and others with him to individuals in the church to whom he wrote.
4:7 Tychicus had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection for the church there (Acts 20:4). He later became one of Paul’s personal representatives. Paul sent him to Ephesus a couple of times (Ephesians 6:21-22; 2 Timothy 4:12), and he sent him to Colosse with this letter for the Colossian church. Tychicus also may have been sent to Crete (Titus 3:12). Tychicus would give the believers news about Paul that Paul did not include in this letter. Paul trusted Tychicus, making good use of his freedom and faithfulness to continue the ministry of the gospel while Paul was imprisoned.
4:8 In spite of the fact that Paul had never been to Colosse, he and the believers there had a bond because of their unity in Christ. This letter, bearing important information needed by the church in Colosse, was entrusted to a brother who would be sure to deliver it and ensure that its contents were understood. Paul also sent Tychicus to tell the believers how he was doing in prison and to encourage them. This personal letter and Paul’s continued faithfulness to spread the gospel in spite of his imprisonment would encourage and strengthen the Colossian believers.
4:9 Onesimus was a native of Colosse. He was a slave who had run away from his master, Philemon (an elder in the church at Colosse), and was saved through Paul in prison. The letter to the Colossians and the letter to Philemon were written at the same time and carried by these men back to Colosse. Paul referred to Onesimus as a much loved brother both here and in Philemon 16. Onesimus would accompany Tychicus and also bring news of Paul’s circumstances. Tychicus probably provided moral support to Onesimus as Onesimus returned to his master in hopes of being restored. He was also returning to the church, not merely as a fellow Colossian, but also as a fellow Christian.
4:10 Aristarchus was from Thessalonica and had accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. He had been arrested, along with Gaius, during the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He and Tychicus were with Paul in Greece (Acts 20:4); Aristarchus had traveled to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:2).
Mark (also called John Mark) was not yet well known among the churches, although apparently Barnabas was (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, 13), for Mark is noted as Barnabas’s cousin. Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark (see the Author section there for more information). Apparently Paul wanted the Colossians to know that he had confidence in Mark; instructions concerning Mark had already been conveyed by someone. Apparently Mark was making good efforts to show himself to be an effective and productive worker. In any case, the Colossians were to welcome Mark if he were to arrive at their church.
4:11 Jesus was a common Jewish name, as was the name Justus (which means “righteous”). Apparently Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were the only ones among Paul’s fellow workers who were Jewish Christians. These men had proven to be a comfort to Paul. Paul had been called as a missionary to the Gentiles, yet he had kept his concern for the lost of his own nation, Israel. Yet Paul’s very mission to the Gentiles had alienated him from many of his fellow Jews; thus, the hard work on behalf of the gospel by these faithful Jewish Christians was especially comforting to Paul.
4:12 Like Onesimus (4:9), Epaphras was from Colosse. He may have been converted in Ephesus under Paul’s teaching, for Paul had stayed in Ephesus for three years, teaching and preaching (Acts 20:31). Epaphras, then, had returned to Colosse, his hometown, where he had founded the church there, and probably the churches in Hierapolis and Laodicea as well (1:7; Acts 19:10). Later, he apparently visited Paul in Rome, perhaps to get the apostle’s advice on dealing with the false teachers. His report to Paul caused Paul to write this letter. Like Paul (1:23) and Tychicus (4:7), Epaphras was a servant of Christ Jesus, who had been responsible for the missionary outreach to these cities.
Epaphras was a hero of the Colossian church, one of the believers who had helped keep the church together despite growing troubles. His earnest prayers for the believers show his deep love and concern for them. Epaphras’s prayers focused on the Colossian believers’ growth in the faith—that they would become strong spiritually (as in 1:28; 2:2; 3:14) and be perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God (filled with everything that is God’s will). We have already been filled with Christ, but we must go on to fulfill what has been given us. Such strength and assurance of faith will help believers of any time period stand against false teaching.
4:13 Epaphras agonized in prayer, not only for the believers in Colosse, but also for those in the other cities in the Lycus Valley. Laodicea was located a few miles northwest of Colosse, also on the Lycus River, and was a stopover along the main road from the East to Ephesus. The city was named for Laodice, queen of Antiochus II. Hierapolis was about five miles north of Laodicea. Epaphras was truly a zealous missionary in this particular portion of the Roman Empire.
4:14 Doctor Luke had spent much time with Paul. He had accompanied Paul on most of the third missionary journey. He also remained beside Paul through this imprisonment, as well as Paul’s final imprisonment (see 2 Timothy 4:11). The good doctor certainly had helped with Paul’s health (especially after the beatings Paul received during his travels, as well as other ailments that plagued Paul in prison). Luke was also a prolific writer, authoring the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Since Paul had explained that the only three Jewish Christians with him were Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus, it has been assumed that Luke was a Gentile or a Greek-speaking Jew. Apparently, Demas was faithful at this time (see also Philemon 24), but later he deserted Paul (2 Timothy 4:10).
4:15 Paul turned his attention from sending everyone else’s greetings to sending his own. He asked that the Colossian church relay his greetings to the church (that is, to the brothers and sisters) in Laodicea (ten miles to the west). This gives an interesting sidelight to church life in the first century—it seems that the churches had fellowship with one another, as the sending of greetings and sharing of letters would indicate (4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). Another sidelight is the picture of believers meeting in private homes. It wasn’t until the middle of the third century that churches began to own property and build public places of worship. So during this time, individual believers opened their homes for worship services. Here Paul greeted those who met in Nympha’s home. In Colosse, the believers met in Philemon’s house (Philemon 2). Lydia opened her home to the believers in Philippi (Acts 16:40). Gaius offered his home to the believers in Corinth (Romans 16:23). Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and wife team, opened their home while they lived in Rome (Romans 16:5) and in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19).
4:16 After this letter had been read to all the believers in Colosse in a worship service, they were to send it on to Laodicea. Apparently the heresy was a problem for that church as well, and they needed Paul’s advice and encouragement. At this time, no New Testament had been assembled—indeed, most of the New Testament books were still being written. So the churches circulated these letters from Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:27), Peter (1 Peter 1:1), James (James 1:1), and other key Christian leaders.
The Colossians, in turn, were to read the letter Paul had written to the church in Laodicea. Most scholars suggest that the letter may have been the book of Ephesians because the letter to the Ephesians was to be circulated to all the churches in Asia Minor. It is also possible that there was a special letter to the Laodiceans, which we do not have.
4:17 Paul’s letter to Philemon is also addressed to Archippus (Philemon 2), where Paul called him a “fellow soldier.” Archippus may have been a Roman soldier who had become a member of the Colossian church, or he may have been Philemon’s son. In any case, Paul called upon the members of the church to encourage Archippus to carry out some work that the Lord gave him. Paul singled out Archippus for making sure his job was completed. Paul saw nothing wrong in challenging believers to attempt more in ministry and to go beyond their current level of achievement.
4:18 Paul usually dictated his letters to a scribe, and he often ended with a short greeting in his own handwriting (see also 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Philemon 19). This assured the recipients that false teachers were not writing letters in Paul’s name (as apparently had been a problem, see 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 3:17). It also gave the letters a personal touch, especially to this congregation Paul had never visited.
Paul asked that the believers continue to pray for him during his imprisonment (see also 4:3, 10). This reference to his chains also reminded the believers that the letter had been written to them while he was in prison. Paul had been remembering them; he wanted them to remember that he was a prisoner for the gospel’s sake, a gospel he would not stop preaching regardless of his chains. Paul was in prison because he refused to set aside one iota of his faith; he hoped that the Colossian believers would remember that when they encountered the false teachings.
Just as Paul had begun his letter with grace (1:2), so he ended it with the benediction that the believers would continue to experience God’s unmerited favor. Ultimately, God’s grace would strengthen and defend the church.
To understand the letter to the Colossians, we need to realize that the church was facing pressure from a heresy that promised deeper spiritual life through secret knowledge. The false teachers were destroying faith in Christ by undermining Christ’s humanity and divinity. Paul makes it clear in this letter to the Colossian believers that Christ alone is the source of our spiritual life, the Head of the body of believers. Christ is Lord of both the physical and spiritual worlds. The path to deeper spiritual life is not through religious duties, special knowledge, or secrets; it is only through a clear connection with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must never let anything come between us and our Savior.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)