Colossians 4:6

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. WITH GRACE - `IN grace' as its clement, investiture (; ). Contrast those "of the world" who "therefore speak of the world" (). Even the smallest leaf of the believer should be full of the sap of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 17:7): his conversation cheerful without levity, serious without gloom. Compare ; , Jesus' speech. SEASONED WITH SALT - i:e., the savour of fre...

6._Your speech_. He requires suavity of speech, such as may allure the hearers by its profitableness, for he does not merely condemn communications that are openly wicked or impious, but also such as are worthless and idle. Hence he would have them _seasoned with salt_. Profane men have their seasonings of discourse, (472) but he does not speak of them; nay more, as witticisms are insinuating, and for the most part procure favor, (473) he indirectly prohibits believers from the practice and familiar use of them. For he reckons as tasteless everything that does not edify. The term _grace _is employed in the same sense, so as to be opposed to talkativeness, taunts, and all sorts of trifles which are either injurious or vain. (474) _That ye may know how. _The man who has accustomed himself to caution in his communications

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 6. _LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH_ _SALT_] Let it be such as has a tendency to oppose and preserve from the corruption of sin. The rabbins say: "He who, in prayer, omits any word, should begin again at the beginning; for he who does not is like boiled pottage, in which there is no salt." _Berachoth_, fol. 34, 1. Let all your conversation be such as may tend to exemplify and recommend Christianity; let it not only be _holy_, but wise, gracious, and intelligent. _A harsh method_ of _proposing_ or _defending_ the doctrines of Christianity only serves to repel men from those doctrines, and from the way of salvation. _Salt_, from its use in preserving food from corruption, and rendering it both savoury and wholesome, has always been made the emblem of _wisdom_. The word has been also used to express in composition or conversation what is terse, comprehensive, usefu...

LET YOUR SPEECH - Your conversation. In the previous verse the apostle had given a general direction that our conduct toward those who are not professing Christians should be wise and prudent; he here gives a particular direction in regard to our conversation. BE ALWAY WITH GRACE - Imbued with the spirit of religion. It should be such as religion is fitted to produce; such as to show that the grace of God is in our hearts. Bloomfield supposes that this means “courteous and agreeable, not morose and melancholy.” But though this may be included, and though the rule here laid down would lead to that, it cannot be all that is intended. It rather means that our conversation should be such as to show that we are governed by the principles of religion, and that there is unfeigned piety in the heart. This will indeed make us mild, courteous, agreeable, and urbane in our conversation; but it will...

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

LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE,.... "In grace, or concerning grace": let grace be the subject matter of your speech and conversation. When saints meet together they should converse with each other about the work of grace upon their souls, how it was begun, and how it has been carried on, and in what case it now is; they should talk of the great things and wonders of grace, which God has done for them, which would be both comfortable and edifying to them, and make for the glory of the grace of God; and also, they should confer together about the doctrines of grace, and so instruct, establish, and build up one another in them; and at least their conversation should always turn on things graceful and acceptable, such as may minister grace unto the hearer, and be useful and edifying; wherefore all obscene words, unchaste expressions, filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting, ought not...

GRACE Grace (imparted). (2 Thessalonians 1:12); (Romans 6:1); (2 Peter 3:18)....

CHAPTER 4 __ 1. Prayer and ministry (Colossians 4:2) 2. Walking in wisdom (Colossians 4:5) 3. The fellowship of the saints in their service (Colossians 4:7) 4. The conclusion (Colossians 4:18) Colossians 4:2 The first verse of this chapter belongs to the preceding one. Prayer is the most needed thing for those who are risen with Christ and know that they are complete in Him. Without continued prayer the full realization of the great truths unfolded in this Epistle is impossible. Communi

A REQUEST FOR PRAYER: THE NEED OF WISDOM. The Colossians must persevere in prayer and be vigilant therein with thanksgiving; at the same time praying for Paul and His companions that God may open for them a door of opportunity for the preaching of the word and the proclamation of the mystery of Christ the mystery for the sake of which Paul is in prison that he may make manifest its hitherto hidden truth by preaching of the right kind. In relation to non-Christians, they are to walk wisely, buying up opportunities as they arise; their speech should be always courteous, and seasoned with the salt of a shrewdness which will know how to accommodate itself to individuals severally. Colossians 4:3. a door: _ cf._ 1 Corinthians 16:9;...