COLOSSIANS

Colossians Chapter 4

• Colossians 4:1  Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

In other words, we should all treat those that work for us, our neighbors, our family members and all we work with, how we would want to be treated by our Father in Heaven. The golden rule is to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us.

• Matthew 7:12  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 

Further Instructions

• Colossians 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 

Pray without stopping and in all things give thanks. Praying and watching for not only our own souls but the souls of all those we know and the souls of those that are lost that the door will open for all to hear the gospel of Jesus. Pray for fellow believers. Those in authority are to watch for their well being and their souls. Watching is watching to make sure that we are all ready for the Lord's coming and watching that no one is being led astray by false teaching. I would say that  there is more to watching and praying then we might think, but it's not spying on people and interferring without their privacy in their homes to trying to control them in some way. We are to watch for their well being and their spiritual state but not try to use force or intimidation. We are to love one another, not become some religious cult.

• Mark 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 

Also concerning the end times before the rapture and the great tribulation we are to pray that we may escape all those things that are coming in the future.

• Luke 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

We escape the judgments and wrath of God by being "safely in Christ" when that latter day time of Jacob's trouble comes that we call the great tribulation.

• Colossians 4:3  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: 

We are to continually be in prayer for those that are called into the mission field, for those that pastor local churches, for those that go out to evangelize and preach the gospel in places that have never yet heard it yet.

• Colossians 4:4  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

The word manifest is to make known to all who will hear, the mystery of the gospel of Jesus which is the only way to be saved and enter into eternal life.

• Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Take advantage of the time we have now to walk in wisdom and be partakers of the truth of God's word.

• Colossians 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

I love this verse. We should quote it every day. Be watchful, prayed up as the old timers use to say. This is so we can be ready to give an answer to anyone that we may meet us with questions about the gospel. Pray that we may know how to answer them in a way they can understand all that we say.

Final Greetings

• Colossians 4:7  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; 

This man was the one who delivered this letter to the church at Colosse. We all have our part in the work of the Lord. Paul was in prison but praise the Lord, God's word was not stopped but spread out even from prison. Paul seemed to have been able to receive visitors. God opens doors everywhere for His gospel to go forth. He uses dreams, visions and angels but mostly He uses us when we obey God and do our part.

• Colossians 4:9  With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 

Onesimus was a runaway slave that Paul won to the Lord. He sent him back to Philemon with a letter asking him to forgive Onesimus and set him free from slavery. If all who owned slaves in early America would have done this, there would have been no civil war.

• Colossians 4:10  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. 

Aristarchus was in prison with Paul, Justus was another name for Jesus. There are other men that are named Jesus. It was a common name at one time. Barnabas was Paul's first companion in spreading the word of God. They had a dispute over Mark but that thankfully was healed later. It resulted though in two missionary journeys going out instead of just one. Barnabas with John Mark and Paul with Silas. Sometimes division works for good if we forgive each other continue in the work of God without badmouthing and threatening each other. Bless each other instead.

• Colossians 4:12  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. 

Epaphras is supposedly the one that brought Paul news of the state of the church and the danger of false teaching.

• Colossians 4:14  Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 

Luke, the writer of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts was a physician. Demas later forsook Paul as we see in Paul's words to Timothy about Demas loving this present world more than God. Sadly this also happens to many which is the reason we all need to watch and pray continually so this doesn't happen to us as well as those we are associated with.

• Colossians 4:15  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. 

One of the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation is Laodicea. The one that was lukewarm and in spiritual danger at the time John wrote down what the Lord gave him on the Isle of Patmos. Paul desires that they be given this same epistle. This shows us God's faithfulness to keep us from error.

• Colossians 4:17  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.

Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus. Archippus was one of the pastors or workers. Little is known of him but Paul encourages him to fulfill God's calling on his life as we all need to do. DC

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