{"id":23716,"date":"2014-01-12T16:41:40","date_gmt":"2014-01-12T23:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?page_id=23716"},"modified":"2014-12-17T16:01:46","modified_gmt":"2014-12-17T23:01:46","slug":"chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/commentary\/colossians\/chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n

As noted before, this was a poor chapter division.<\/p>\n

The advice given to masters is to justice and fairness, and a reminder that they have their own master in Heaven and they too will face judgement.<\/p>\n

Further Instructions<\/span><\/h3>\n

2\u00a0Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; …<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul again exhorts them to the Colossians to continual prayer and continual thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

… 3\u00a0and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison,\u00a04\u00a0that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul asks for their prayers in his own missionary effort.<\/p>\n

Here Paul again indicates that he’s in prison (or possibly house arrest).<\/p>\n

Paul wants to speak as he should. How many times do we compromise ourselves?<\/p>\n

5\u00a0Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those outside of their congregation.<\/p>\n

The “making the most of the time”<\/em><\/span> doesn’t mean hedonism. It means making the most in terms of real (heavenly) value.<\/p>\n

6\u00a0Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul just asked for their prayers concerning his speech and he now gives them some direction.\u00a0Scripture has much to say about control of speech.<\/p>\n

The phrase “seasoned with salt”<\/em><\/span> alludes to Jesus’ words about “salt of the earth”<\/em><\/span>. Brings taste. Pure.<\/p>\n

Final Greetings and Benediction<\/span><\/h3>\n

7\u00a0Tych\u2032icus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tychicus is delivering the letter.<\/p>\n

He’s a minister of the Gospel.<\/p>\n

8\u00a0I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, …<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul sent Tychicus to them.<\/p>\n

…9\u00a0and with him One\u2032simus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul also sent Onesimus, the runaway slave to the Colossians.<\/p>\n

Paul now gives his farewell greetings…<\/p>\n

10\u00a0Aristar\u2032chus my fellow prisoner greets you, …<\/span><\/p>\n

Aristarchus is in captivity with Paul.<\/p>\n

…and Mark the cousin of Barnabas\u00a0(concerning whom you have received instructions\u2014if he comes to you, receive him), …<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark is the one referenced in Acts.<\/p>\n

…11\u00a0and Jesus who is called Justus. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t know anything about this guy. Probably has another name to disambiguate with the Lord.<\/p>\n

These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The “men of the circumcion”<\/em><\/span> are Jews<\/p>\n

12\u00a0Ep\u2032aphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant\u00a0of Christ Jesus, greets you, always remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.\u00a013\u00a0For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in La-odice\u2032a and in Hi-erap\u2032olis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Epaphras was mentioned earlier. He’s a Colossian. Quite possibly involved in the founding of the Church at Colossae. Paul indicates that he has ministered in the two neighbouring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis.<\/p>\n

14\u00a0Luke the beloved physician…<\/span><\/p>\n

The one from Acts and the author of Luke<\/p>\n

…and Demas greet you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For more background<\/a>.<\/p>\n

15\u00a0Give my greetings to the brethren at La-odice\u2032a, and to Nympha and the church in her house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul sends greetings to the neighbouring city.<\/p>\n

16\u00a0And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the La-odice\u2032ans; and see that you read also the letter from La-odice\u2032a.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul asks that his letter is read there too. This is how the New Testament was spread.<\/p>\n

17\u00a0And say to Archip\u2032pus, \u201cSee that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A presbyter at Laodicea?<\/p>\n

18\u00a0I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul often did this.<\/p>\n

Back to index<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. As noted before, this was a poor chapter division. The advice given to masters is to justice and fairness, and a reminder that they have their own master in Heaven and they too will face judgement. Further Instructions 2\u00a0Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":23494,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23716","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23716"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52010,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23716\/revisions\/52010"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}