‘Masters (lords), render to your servants what is right and is equality, knowing that you also have a master in Heaven.' The master is not to show partiality but must treat each servant fairly. The same treatment must be meted out to all, and it must be ‘right'. For that is how the Master in Heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.' The great concern of the Christians' prayer should be the going forward of God's purposes and the triumph of the Gospel. This was made clear by Jesus Christ Himself. The first half of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9) is directly give... [ Continue Reading ]
A FINAL EXHORTATION (COLOSSIANS 4:2) These final words concentrate on what is important for their future behaviour in Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Withal praying for us also that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, that I may make it manifest (revealed openly, fully and clearly) as I ought to speak.' Note that Paul says not a word about his own conditions (except for his bonds... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, buying back the time (or ‘the opportunity').' As he asks them to pray for an opportunity for himself he also calls on them to make the most of their own opportunities. They are to walk in wisdom (compare Matthew 10:16) towards ‘outsiders' (see 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.' Every opportunity must be approached differently (1 Corinthians 9:22), and the words carefully chosen. They must be suitable to both person and occasion. They must be spoken with grace, t... [ Continue Reading ]
FINAL SALUTATIONS (COLOSSIANS 4:7). ‘All my affairs will Tychicus make known to you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, whom I have sent to you for this very purpose that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts, together with Onesimus, the f... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner salutes you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you received firm instructions. If he comes to you, receive him. And Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These alone are my fellow-workers to the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has much labour for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.' See Colos... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas salute you.' Luke was a regular companion of Paul (note the ‘we' passages in Acts - see Acts 16:10; Acts 20:6 to Acts 21:18 and probably after; Acts 27:1 to Acts 28:31), and the author of Luke and Acts. It is here that we learn he was a physician. In Philemon... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in their house. And when this letter has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.' He sends greetings to the Laodiceans in the letter... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfil it.' We do not know why Archippus is picked out. He is called a ‘fellow-soldier' (Philemon 1:2), which suggests Paul had confidence in him, and he may have been the particular leader in the Colossia... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.' Paul would appear to have been using an amanuensis, a scribe (see Romans 16:22). But he adds his postscript to prove the genuineness of the letter. This appears to have been his common practise (compare Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]