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: FOR US - myself and Timothy (). A DOOR OF UTTERANCE - `a door for the Word.' Not as in , where "utterance" is his request. Here an opportunity for preaching the Word, by removal of hindrances (; ; ; ). THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST ...

3._Pray also for us_. He does not say this by way of pretense, but because, being conscious to himself of his own necessity, he was earnestly desirous to be aided by their prayers, and was fully persuaded that they would be of advantage to them. Who then, in the present day, would dare to despise the intercessions of brethren, which Paul openly declares himself to stand in need of? And, unquestionably, it is not in vain that the Lord has appointed this exercise of love between us — that we pray for each other. Not only, therefore, ought each of us to pray for his brethren, but we ought also, on our part, diligently to seek help from the prayers of others, as often as occasion requires. It is, however, a childish (468) argument on the part of Papists, who infer from this, that the dead must be implored (469) to pray for us. For what is there here that bears any resemblance to

2-6 No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving. The people are to pray particularly for their ministers. Believers are exhorted to right conduct towards unbelievers. Be careful in all converse with them, to do them good, and recommend religion by all fit means. Diligence in redeeming time, commends religion to the good opinion of others. Even what is only carelessness may cause a lasting prejudice against the truth. Let all discourse be discreet and seasonable, as becomes Christians. Though it be not always of grace, it must always be with grace. Though our discourse be of that which is common, yet it must be in a Christian manner. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, and keeps it from corrupting. It is not enough to answer what is asked, unless we answer aright also....

Verse Colossians 4:3. _PRAYING ALSO FOR US_] Let the success and spread of the Gospel be ever dear to you; and neglect not to pray fervently to God that it may have free course, run, and be glorified. _A DOOR OF UTTERANCE_] θυραν του λογου. The word θυρα, which commonly signifies a _door_, or such like entrance into a house or passage through a wall, is often used metaphorically for an _entrance_ to any business, _occasion_ or _opportunity_ to commence or perform any particular work. So in Acts 14:27: _The_ DOOR _of faith is opened to the Gentiles_; i.e. there is now an _opportunity_ of preaching the Gospel to the nations of the earth. 1 Corinth

WITHAL - With all the supplications which you offer for other persons and things; or at the same time that you pray for them. PRAYING ALSO FOR US - Notes, Ephesians 6:19; compare 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19; Hebrews 13:18. THAT GOD WOULD OPEN TO US A DOOR OF UTTERANCE - To preach the gospel. He earnestly desired to have liberty to preach the gospel, and asked them to pray that this might be restored to him; see the notes at...

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 4:1 (See Colossians 3:1.) COLOSSIANS 4:2 SECTION IX. PRAYER AND SOCIAL CONVERSE. There are added some brief exhortations of a more general tenor, the contents of which are summed up in the heading given to this section. COLOSSIANS 4:2 CONTINUE STEADFAST IN PRAYER, BEING WATCHFUL (or, _wakeful_) THEREIN, WITH THANKSGIVING. "Steadfast

WITHAL, PRAYING ALSO FOR US,.... The persons to be prayed for are next directed to; and these are not only themselves, though their concern is very near and great, but others also, all the saints and people of God, yea, all men, and in particular the ministers of the Gospel. The apostle desires they would pray for him, and his fellow ministers, and which he says not in dissimulation, under a guise of humility, but in true humility and lowliness of mind; being sensible of the greatness of the ministerial work, which this shows, and of his own imperfection and weakness, and of what advantage the prayers, even of the meanest in the church, might be unto him: and this shows, that it is the duty of churches, and of particular believers, to pray for their ministers, and, among the rest, as follows, THAT GOD WOULD OPEN TO US A DOOR OF UTTERANCE; or "of the word"; so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac,...

Colossians 4:1. _Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal;_ I sometimes think that the good men who chopped the Bible up into Chapter s for it is not in Chapter s in the original, must have hoped that we should not read this message to the masters, as he had put it in another chapter. But I never like to read about the servants without also reading about the masters. There is six for one, and half-a-dozen for the other; and, as is usual, in the Scriptures, there are balanced duties. If there is an exhortation to the children, there is generally one to the parents close by; and if there is a word to wives, there is one for husbands, too. So let us read that verse, «Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; Colossians 4:1. Knowing tha

MYSTERY (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 13:11). _...

COLOSSIANS 4:3 Cristou/ {A} Instead of Cristou/, a few witnesses (B* L 1319 _al_), probably under the influence of readings involving a similar expression in many witnesses at Colossians 2:2, read qeou/....