to Colossians 4:1. ENFORCEMENT OF THE RECIPROCAL DUTIES OF WIVES AND HUSBANDS, CHILDREN AND PARENTS, SLAVES AND MASTERS, WITH FREQUENT REFERENCE TO THESE DUTIES AS INVOLVED IN THEIR DUTY TO CHRIST. In this section the reference to the subject precedes that to the ruling parties, and the duty of obed... [ Continue Reading ]
ἰσότητα. The literal meaning is “equality,” and Meyer takes it so here (so Ol., Haupt), explaining not of equality conferred by emancipation, but of the treatment of the slave by his master as a brother in Christ. It may, in spite of Oltramare's denial, mean “equity,” and the combination with δίκ. s... [ Continue Reading ]
προσκαρτερεῖτε : _cf._ Romans 12:12; Acts 1:14. Steadfastness in prayer is opposed to “fainting” in it, the best illustration being the importunate widow and the importunate friend. γρηγοροῦντες may mean that they are to watch against growing weary so that the prayer becomes mechanical, or, as Soden... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 4:2-4 partially parallel to Ephesians 6:18-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXHORTATIONS TO PRAYER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE APOSTLE'S WORK, TO WISDOM TOWARDS THOSE WITHOUT AND TO FITNESS OF SPEECH.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἡμῶν : perhaps including all his fellow-workers, probably not Paul alone, on account of the singular (δέδεμαι). θύραν τοῦ λόγου : _i.e._, a removal of whatever obstructs its progress, possibly liberation from prison, to which he was looking forward (Philemon 1:22). For the metaphor, _cf._ 1 Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἵνα is variously connected. The usual way is best which connects it with ἀνοίξῃ. This is better than going back to προσευχ., while the connexion with λαλ. is strained. It may be taken (as Beng., Hofm., Sod.) with δέδεμαι, “bound in order that I may manifest,” but if so why should Paul have desired l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cf._ Ephesians 5:15. An exhortation to wise conduct in relation to non-Christians. τοὺς ἔξω : those outside the Church; the reference is suggested by the mention of θύραν τ. λόγου. They must be wise in their relations with them so as not to give them an unfavourable impression of the Gospel. τὸν κα... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐν χάριτι : probably “gracious,” “pleasant” is the meaning; by the sweetness and courtesy of their conversation they are to impress favourably the heathen. Some (most recently Haupt) think Divine grace is meant, but this does not suit ἅλατι so well. ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος. In classical writers “salt” expre... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMENDATION OF THE BEARERS OF THE LETTER, WITH SALUTATIONS FROM HIS FELLOW-WORKERS AND HIMSELF.... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 4:7-8 parallel to Ephesians 6:21-22.... [ Continue Reading ]
Τυχικός is mentioned in Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12. He belonged to the province of Asia, and was sent at this time not only with this letter but with the Epistle to the Ephesians. ἀδελφὸς is usually taken to express his relation to the members of the Church, though Haupt t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔπεμψα : “I am sending” (epistolary aorist). γνῶτε τὰ περὶ ἡμῶν. This is not only the better attested reading but yields the better sense, because both before (Colossians 4:7) and after (Colossians 4:9) Paul says that Tychicus will acquaint them with matters at Rome. He wishes to relieve the anxiety... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὀνησίμῳ. Philemon's runaway slave, who was rescued by Paul and converted to Christianity. Paul sent him back to his master, with the exquisite Epistle to Philemon despatched at the same time as this letter. He speaks of him in the most affectionate terms, to secure a welcome for him at Colossæ. He s... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἀρίσταρχος : a native of Thessalonica, mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2; Philemon 1:24. In Philm. Epaphras is mentioned as Paul's fellow-prisoner. Fritzsche suggested that his friends took turns in voluntarily sharing his captivity, and explained the difference between the two Epistles... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἰησοῦς : otherwise unknown to us. Zahn has well pointed out that the mention of this name, in addition to those mentioned in Philemon, creates difficulties for the impugners of the authenticity. If Philemon was authentic why should an imitator venture to add an unknown person, and especially to give... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἐπαφρᾶς : see on Colossians 1:7. He was either a native of Colossæ or had settled there. δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. Paul uses this term often of himself, but of no one else except here and Philippians 1:1, where he calls himself and Timothy δοῦλοι Χ. Ἰ. Meyer and Alford connect with ὁ ἐξ ὑμ., but it is b... [ Continue Reading ]
The anxiety of Epaphras for these Churches was probably due to his connexion with them, either as founder or teacher.... [ Continue Reading ]
Λουκᾶς ὁ ἰατρὸς ὁ ἀγαπητὸς : “Luke the physician, the beloved,” no doubt to be identified with the evangelist Luke. His writings have been shown to exhibit a considerable use of medical terms. The name was originally Lucanus. He was clearly not one “of the circumcision” (Colossians 4:11), and this,... [ Continue Reading ]
Νυμφαν may be masculine (Νυμφᾶν) or feminine (Νύμφαν). The Doric form, Νύμφαν, is improbable; on the other hand the contracted form, Νυμφᾶν, is rare. If αὐτῶν is read, either is possible. Otherwise the decision is made by the choice between αὐτοῦ and αὐτῆς. It seems probable that αὐτῶν was due to ch... [ Continue Reading ]
τὴν ἐκ Λαοδικίας : clearly a letter sent by Paul to Laodicea, which the Colossians are instructed to procure and read. It may be a lost letter, or it may be our so-called Epistle to the Ephesians, to which Marcion refers as the Epistle to the Laodiceans, and which was probably a circular letter. Wei... [ Continue Reading ]
Archippus may have been at Laodicea, but more probably not, for we should have expected the reference to him in Colossians 4:15. The Church is entrusted with the duty of exhorting one of its ministers. There is no need to infer any slackness on his part. ἐν Κυρίῳ is added to emphasise its importance... [ Continue Reading ]
τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ : the rest of the letter would be written by an amanuensis. As he writes, his chain, fastened on his left hand, would impress itself on his notice. Hence the touching request “Remember my bonds,” which may bear the special sense “remember in your prayers”. ἡ χάρις μεθʼ ὑμῶν : so without... [ Continue Reading ]