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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Colossians 4:6

Seasoned with salt

(αλατ ηρτυμενος). The same verb αρτυω (old verb from αιρω, to fit, to arrange) about salt in Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34. Nowhere else in the N.T. Not too much salt, not too little. Plutarch uses salt of speech, the wit which flavours speech (cf. Attic salt). Our word salacious is this same word degenerated into vulgarity. Grace and salt (wit, sense) make an ideal combination. Every teacher will sympathize with Paul's desire "that ye know how ye must answer each one" (ειδενα πως δε υμας εν εκαστω αποκρινεσθα). Who does know?

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See also Colossians 4:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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 an...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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 ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CHRISTIAN (Colossians 3:18-25 ; Colossians 4:1) _ 4:1 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not treat th...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Behave yourselves wisely to those who are outside the Church. Buy up every possible opportunity. Let your speech always be with gracious charm, seasoned with the salt of wit, so that you will know the...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SPEECH. Greek. _logos._ App-121. GRACE. App-184. SEASONED. Greek. _artsa._ Only here, Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34. WITH. No preposition. Dative case. ANSWER. Greek. _apokrinomai._ App-122....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _your speech_ TALKING, DISCOURSE. The precept here may well be applied to the Christian's _whole_use of the tongue (see Ephesians 4:29). But the context gives it a special reference, surely, to his _d...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Ὁ ΛΌΓΟΣ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. A subdivision of the general attitude to be taken towards unbelievers (Colossians 4:5). ΠΆΝΤΟΤΕ ἘΝ ΧΆΡΙΤΙ. χάρις when connected with λόγος (cf. Ecclesiastes 10:12), and especially when...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    2–6. _Prayer_ (Colossians 4:2-4) _and speaking for Christ_ (Colossians 4:5-6) (Colossians 4:2) In prayer be persevering, ever alert in it, combining it with thanksgiving; ...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΆΝΤΟΤΕ Ι (G3842) всегда, ΆΛΑΤΙ _dat. от_ ΆΛ (G217) соль, ΉΡΤΥΜΈΝΟΣ _perf. pass. part. от_ ΆΡΤΎΩ (G741) одобрять. Образные обороты, подобно соли, использовались в античном мире для придания вкуса ра...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE,— "Always conducted in the most mild and courteous, the most proper and graceful manner; so that it may appear influenced by a governing principle of divine grace a...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    5. WALK IN WISDOM TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT, REDEEMING THE TIME. 6. LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EACH ONE. _Translation and Par...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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" w...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _CORRECTION-DEPORTMENT_ 17 We should always distinguish between our place "in _ Christ_ " and "in the Lord". "In _ Christ_ " physical distinctions vanish, even the distinction between the sexes is go...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATION AND GREETING 2-6. Exhortation to prayer and wisdom in dealing with heathen....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Grace, not divine grace, but graciousness. Their speech must be winning and wise, SEASONED WITH SALT. 7-18. Commendation of bearers of the letter, and salutations....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED THE COLOSSIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ A word list is at the end. It explains words with a *star by them. CHAPTER 4 V1 Masters, give what is good and fair to your sla...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    [7. Conclusion of the Epistle. (1) FINAL EXHORTATION to prayer (especially for St. Paul himself), and to wisdom towards those without, both in deed and in word (Colossians 4:2). (2) COMMENDATION...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SEASONED WITH SALT. — It seems impossible not to trace here a reference to our Lord’s words in Mark 9:50, “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 4 PRECEPTS FOR THE INNERMOST AND OUTERMOST LIFE Colossians 4:2 (R.V.) So ends the ethical portion of the Epistle. A glance over the series of practical exhortations, from the beginning of th...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    EXHORTATIONS TO PRAYER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE APOSTLE'S WORK, TO WISDOM TOWARDS THOSE WITHOUT AND TO FITNESS OF SPEECH....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    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 grac...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PRAYER AND DAILY LIVING Colossians 4:2 We must pray more. Our lives cannot maintain the Godward attitude without prolonged seasons of communication with Him through the Word. This is so important tha...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The true purpose of life for the saints and faithful in Christ is to the maintenance of a twofold relationship- toward God, and toward those who are without. The first is covered by prayer as it inclu...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Prayer Matters Christians cannot afford to cut the lines of communication with their Master, thus they should never stop praying (Luke 18:1-8; Luke 11:5-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Watchfulness in praye...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (5) Let your speech [be] alway with (d) grace, seasoned with (e) salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (5) Our speech and talk must be applied to the profit of the hearers. (d) Fi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. (2) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (3) Withal praying als...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The most cursory reader discerns at once that the epistle to the Colossians is the counterpart of that to the Ephesians. They are in nowise the same, but may be viewed each as a supplement to the othe...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _CHRISTIAN CONVERSATION_ ‘Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.’ Colossians 4:6 There are four kinds of conversation—general conversation, conversation for discussion, conversati...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    It will be observed how the apostle consequently introduces Christ into them, and especially in regard to those who are subject in them, wives and children; in order to sanctify, by so exalted a motiv...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 oth...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Let your speech _be_ alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Ver. 6. _Seasoned with salt_] Of mortification and discretion: even our common communicat...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Walk in wisdom toward them that are without_ Your heathen neighbours; doing nothing to disgrace religion in their eyes, or unnecessarily to exasperate them against you; _redeeming the time_ Embracing...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WITH GRACE; such as grace dictates; speak what is seasonable, pertinent, instructive, useful. SEASONED WITH SALT; not insipid and profitless, but, like well-seasoned food, wholesome and promotive of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EVERY MAN. The apostle is here addressing the last exhortations to the Phrygian Christians, and they ar...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CONCLUDING ADMONITIONS....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    There is no reason for a chapter division at this point, for the responsibility of masters is closely linked with that of servants, which we have seen would include the relationship between employers...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Duty of Example - 4:5-6 5WALK IN WISDOM TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE, REDEEMING THE TIME. We should walk (live our lives) in wisdom. Phillips "be wise in your behavior" SEB "live wisely" Let the con...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EACH ONE. 'LET' -Which infers we have complete control over this. 'YOUR SPEECH' -Hence: (a) What we...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE: because discourse is the tenderest part of our converse with men, especially those without, and ought to be managed with the greatest circumspection, upon occasion...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book II In addition, it will in my opinion form an appropriate sequel to defend those tenets, on account of which the Greeks assail us, making use of a few Scriptures,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Colossians 4:6 your G5216 speech G3056 always G3842 with G1722 grace G5485 seasoned G741 (G5772) salt G217 know...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A FINAL EXHORTATION (COLOSSIANS 4:2) These final words concentrate on what is important for their future behaviour in Christ....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘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 car...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    4. _Concluding Exhortations_. This brief section contains special exhortations, but not addressed to special classes. The thoughts are familiar; Colossians 4:6 alone is without a parallel in the Epist...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Colossians 4:6. LET YOUR SPEECH (lit, ‘word') BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE. The first characteristic of Christian discourse, especially ‘toward them that are without,' is here indicated: it should be ‘with (l...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    III. HORTATORY PART: LIVE AS THOSE SHOULD LIVE WHO WERE RAISED WITH CHRIST THE HEAD. (1.) Fellowship with the Exalted Christ the motive for the new life; Colossians 3:1-4. (Transitive paragraph.) (2....

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

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

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Consistent Christian living and fellowship of believers. CHARACTERS: God, Paul, Christ, Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Marcus, Barnabas, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas, Archippus. CONCLUSI...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Colossians 4:1. _Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal._ Paul doubles the precept here, reminding them that one is their master, who is Lord of heaven and earth. He well knew tha...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    YOUR SPEECH. You can drive people away by your talk. Be pleasant and interesting, so you can say a good word for Christ to others. THE RIGHT ANSWER. Present the Truth in the best way (see 1 Corinthian...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Walk in wisdom towards them that are without._ THE WISE CONDUCT OF LIFE The conduct of life is to be regulated-- I. According to the dictates of the highest wisdom. 1. Religion is a life. “Walk.”...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let your speech he alway with grace, seasoned with salt._ I. The exhortation. 1. What: Your speech. (1) It is not sufficient to order our life and actions well unless we at the same time regulate...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 4:5 SEASONED WITH SALT. Compare Matthew 5:13. The metaphor suggests giving a powerful and attractive testimony to non-Christians.

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Colossians 4:5. WALK IN WISDOM.— Ephesians 5:15. Walk circumspectly. R.V. “carefully.” It would appear from this as if the adverb in Ephesians 5:15 should go with “wal...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 4:1 (See Colossians 3:1.) COLOSSIANS 4:2 SECTION IX. PRAYER AND

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal [pay them a decent salary]; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Col...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 16:24; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Kings 2:20; Colossians 3:16;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Seasoned with salt [α λ α τ ι η ρ τ υ μ ε ν ο ς]. Both words only here in Paul. The metaphor is from the office of salt in rendering palatable. Both in Greek and Latin authors, salt was used to expres...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Let your speech be always with grace — Seasoned with the grace of God, as flesh is with salt....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Direction is here given to all Christians for the right government of the tongue, and well ordering of the speech, that it be not corrupt and rotten, filthy or frothy, vain and unprofitable, but mild...

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Old Testament