_Masters, give unto your servants that which is just_ Namely, competent food, Proverbs 31:15; wages, James 5:4; and suitable work, neither too much, Proverbs 12:10, nor too little, Proverbs 29:21; _and equal_ Or equitable, distinguishing the most faithful among them by particular rewards. See on Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
_Continue in prayer_ As a means to enable you to perform the fore-mentioned duties. This direction being given here, and Ephesians 6:18, (where see the note,) immediately after the apostle's exhortation to relative duties, teaches us that they who live in one family should often join in social praye... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 and improving every opportunity of doing good, and particularly of gaining souls to Christ. _Let yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_All my state_ The things which relate to myself; _shall Tychicus declare unto you_ See on Ephesians 6:21. _With Onesimus, who is one of you_ Or, rather, _who is from you_, as εξ υμων seems to mean; or, who is your countryman; for it does not appear that he could be a member of the church at Colosse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner_ Such was Epaphras likewise for a time, Philemon 1:23; _saluteth you_ “This excellent person was a Jew, (Colossians 4:11,) though born in Thessalonica, Acts 20:4. He, with his countryman Caius, was hurried into the theatre at Ephesus, by Demetrius and the craftsmen,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Epaphras, always labouring_ Αγωνιζομενος, _striving_, or _agonizing; for you in prayers_ The word properly denotes contending, or combating in the games; here it signifies the greatest fervency of desire and affection in prayer: _that ye may stand perfect_ Perfectly instructed in all Christian grac... [ Continue Reading ]
_When this epistle is read among you_ It appears by this, that the apostolic epistles were read publicly in the churches to which they were addressed; and probably not once, but often: copies of them were likewise taken, and translations of them made very early into different languages, and sent to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say to Archippus_ It is generally supposed that the person here mentioned was the Archippus spoken of Philemon 1:2, where he is called Paul's fellow-labourer and fellow-soldier. It seems he was one of the pastors of the church at Colosse; and many think that he had failed in the duties of his offic... [ Continue Reading ]