Colossians Chapter 4
v. 1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
v. 1 Masters, [on your part] deal with your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
A. Masters, give unto your servants:
1. 1 Cor. 7:21 “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made
free, use it rather.”
2. A slave’s standing in the ancient world: The slave was a thing in the eyes of the law.
There was no such thing as a cod of working conditions. When the slave past his
work, he could be thrown out to die. He had not even the right to marry, and if he
cohabited and there was a child, the child belonged to the master, just as the lambs of
the flock belonged. (William Barclay)
3. The master must treat the slave not like a thing, but like a person, with justice and with the
4. Paul brings them under control, because both are equally under subjection to the authority
of God. He urges that equity of which he makes mention. (John Calvin)
Equity which goes beyond justice. (WB)
B. Just and equal:
1. What they ought to have; what is fairly their due. (Albert Barnes)
2. Slaves or bondmen were at the mercy of their master as they don’t have rights.
3. The object of this is, to secure for servants a proper treatment. It is evident, from this, that
there were in the Christian church those who were "masters;" and the most obvious
interpretation is, that they were the owners of slaves. (AB)
4. In Christ, to make the master and the servant feel that, in a most important sense, they were
on an equality. (AB)
C. Knowing that ye also have a Master:
1. Slaves were expected to do a day of work each day as God as their Master they were to
work as if doing it for the Lord.
2. The meaning here is, that God would not be influenced in the distribution of rewards and
punishments, by a regard to the rank or condition of the master or the slave. He would
show no favor to the one because he was a master; he would withhold none from the
other because he was a slave. He would treat both according to their character. (AB)
v. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
v. 2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.
A. Continue in prayer: (Servants, Masters, etc. v. 2 is possible continuation of v. 1)
1. Continue =to attend constantly; Usage: I persist, persevere in, continue steadfast in, to
devote oneself. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. (Chuck Missler)
2. That is, do not neglect it. The biggest lack in the Christian walk = prayer. (CM)
3. Maintain the spirit of prayer, and embrace all proper occasions to engage in it. (AB)
4. Watch that your mind may be in a right frame when you pray; and watch that when your
mind is in a right frame you may not neglect to pray. (AB)
5. He tells them to persevere in prayer. Even for the best of us, there comes times when
prayer seems to be unavailing and to penetrate no farther than the walls of the room in
which we pray. At such a time the remedy is not to stop but to go on praying; for in
the man who prays, spiritual dryness cannot last. (William Barclay)
6. Prayer is the heavy artillery in the armor of God. (CM)
7. Prayer should be faithful: (CM)
a. “Men ought to pray and not to faint” Luke 18:1
b. “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thes. 5:17
c. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” Eph. 6:18
d. “Praying in the Holy Ghost” Jude 1:20
8. Our walk will directly reflect the time we spend with Him. The soul flourishes in an
atmosphere of prayer. (CM)
B. Watch in the same with thanksgiving:
1. Watch for favorable opportunities. (AB)
2. He adds, thanksgiving, because God must be solicited for present necessity in such a way
that, in the meantime, we do not forget favors already received. (John Calvin)
3. Being always grateful to God, who has called you into such a state of salvation, and
affords you such abundant means and opportunities to glorify him, (Adam Clarke)
4. Thanksgiving is a must have a part in every prayer. (Thank you for daily bread)
v. 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
v. 3 At the same time pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned;
A. Pray for us:
1. Learn hence that we should pray for the prisoner, the captive, the man in chains, the
slave. (AB) (Remember, Paul is writing from a Roman prison.)
2. He does not this by way of pretense, but because, being conscious to himself of his own
necessity, he was earnestly desirous to be aided by their prayers, and was fully
persuaded that they would be of advantage to them. (JC)
3. Let the success and spread of the Gospel be ever dear to God that it may have free course,
run, and be glorified. (Adam Clarke)
4. The people must pray particularly for their ministers, and bear them upon their hearts at all
times at the throne of grace. (Matthew Henry)
B. Open doors (an opportunity):
1. The word which signifies a door, or suck like entrance into a house or passage through a
wall, is often used metaphorically for an entrance to any business, occasion or
opportunity to commence of perform any particular work.
2. Other “doors”
Acts 14:27 “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith
unto the Gentiles.”
1 Cor. 16:8-9 8 “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great door and
effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
2 Cor.2:12 “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door
was opened unto me of the Lord,”
3. To preach the gospel. He earnestly desires to have liberty to preach the gospel, and asked
them to pray that this might be restored to him. (AB)
4. That I may open my mouth boldly - He was in Rome. He was almost alone. He was
surrounded by multitudes of the wicked. He was exposed to death. Yet he desired to
speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to invite sinners to repentance. (AB)
5. He here intimates, by all elegant metaphor, that it is in no degree easier for us to speak
confidently respecting the gospel, than to break through a door that is barred and
bolted. (JC)
6. No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and watch therein
with thanksgiving. (MH)
C. The mystery of Christ:
1. The Gospel, which had been hidden from all former times, and which revealed that
purpose long hidden in the Divine councils, that the Gentiles should be called to enjoy
the same privileges with the Jews. (AC)
2. He means the preaching of the gospel to the Gentile world, which he calls the mystery
hidden from ages. (MH)
D. For which I am also in bonds:
He was suffering under Jewish malice, and for preaching this very mystery (C,1); for they
could not bear to hear announced, as from heaven, that the Gentiles, whom they
considered eternally shut out from any participation of the Divine favor. (AC)
v. 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
v. 4 that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.
A. Make it manifest:
1. Manifest = make clear (visible, manifest), make known.
2. It was a mystery, and he wished to make it manifest—to lay it open, and make all men see
it. (Adam Clarke)
3. He would have them pray for him, that he might not be discouraged in his work, nor driven
from it by his sufferings. That I may make this mystery known to those who have not
heard of it, and make it plain to their understanding. (MH)
B. Ought to speak:
Whether in bonds or at large. Paul felt that the gospel ought always to be spoken with
plainness, and without the fear of man. It is remarkable that he did not ask them to
pray that he might be released. (AB)
v. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
v. 5 Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious].
A. Walk in wisdom:
1. Deal with them on the strictest principles of integrity, so that they may not have occasion
to reproach the religion you profess. (AB)
2. They were surrounded by pagans, as Christians they must live the gospel they preach.
People of the world judge religion, not from the profession, but from the life of its
friends. (AB)
3. If you have cheated a man out of never so small a sum, it is vain that you talk to him about
the salvation of his soul; if you have failed to pay him a debt when it was due, or to
finish a piece of work when you promised it, or to tell him the exact truth in
conversation, it is vain for you to endeavor to induce him to be a Christian. (AB)
(This can be also a situation between Christians. Our slackness is often noted.)
4. That is, conduct uprightly and honestly. Deal with them on the strictest principles of
integrity, so that they may not have occasion to reproach the religion which you
profess. (AB)
5. The Christian must behave himself with wisdom and with tact towards those who are
outside the Church. He must never give the impression of superiority and of
censorious criticism. Few people have ever been argued into Christianity. (WB)
6. Be careful, in all your converse with them, to get no hurt by them, or contract any of their
customs for evil communications corrupt good manners and do no hurt to them, or
increase their prejudices against religion, and give them an occasion to dislike. (MH)
B. Redeeming the time:
1. to buy up, i.e. Ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss.
2. Ephesians 5:15-16 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
3. The word rendered here as "redeeming," means "to purchase; to buy up" from the
possession or power of anyone; and then to redeem, to set free - as from service or
bondage; (AB)
4. The Christian must be a man on the outlook for opportunity. He must buy up every
opportunity possible to work for Christ and to serve men. (WB)
5. Ephesians has the same exhortation of Colossians, but he adds “Because the days are evil –
Because the times in which you live are evil. There are many allurements and
temptations that would lead you away from the proper improvement of time, and that
would draw you into sin. Such were those that would tempt them to go to places of
sinful indulgence and revelry where their time would be wasted, and worse than
wasted. As these temptations abounded, they ought therefore to be more especially on
their guard against a sinful and unprofitable waste of time. (AB)
6. *Time is precious and cannot be bought. It is the most valuable thing we have.
v. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
v. 6 Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].
A. The Power of Speech in James chapter 3 (CM)
1. The tongue is compared to: A bridle, a rudder, a fire, a poisonous animal, a fruitful tree
and a fountain!
2. In each of these pairs, the tongue has the power: to direct, to destroy, to delight
3. The power of speech is a gift from God.
B. Seasoned speech:
1. Paul 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. (JC)
2. Let all your discourse be as becomes Christians, suitable to your profession—savory,
discreet, seasonable.” (MH)
3. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, makes it savory, and keep it from corrupting.
(MH)
C. That you may know how:
1. The man who has accustomed himself to caution in his communications will not fall into
many absurdities, into which talkative and prating persons fall into from time to time,
but, by constant practice, will acquire for himself expertness in making proper and
suitable replies. (JC)
2. Silly talkers expose themselves to derision whenever they are interrogated as to anything.
(JC)
3. One answer is proper for one man, and another for another man. (MH)
D. Giving an answer:
1. 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; so as to show that the soul is
under the influence of love to the Redeemer. (Albert Barnes)
2. We have need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to give proper answers to every man,
particularly in answering the questions and objections of adversaries against our
religion, giving the reasons of our faith. (MH)
3. Be imbued (a feeling or quality) with the spirit of piety, that you may not utter anything
that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question
you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that
will tend to edification. (AB)
v. 7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
v. 7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, who is a much-loved brother and faithful assistant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will give you all the information.
A. Starting to close:
1. Writers often made it clear of their associations with whom they may have fellowship with
by detailing them in letters. This was due to the many impostors.
2. With a few mentions of his friends. Paul names over 100 different friends throughout his
letters. 26 in Romans 16
3. In this closing, the apostle does several of his friends the honor to leave their names upon
record, with some testimony of his respect. (MH)
4. We must remember the circumstances. Paul was in prison awaiting trial and it is always
dangerous to be a prisoner’s friend. (WB)
B. My state:
1. That the Colossians may know what concern he has for them, he confirms them, by giving
them, in a manner, a pledge. (JC)
2. Paul may have been in prison facing death, the body may have been confined but the mind
was desirous to help the churches and advance the gospel. (JC)
3. Paul passes his state over with a word that Tychicus would discuss his situation fully and
in person.
C. Tychicus—much-loved: (CM)
1. Faithfulness in any one is truly lovely, and renders him worthy of our affection and
esteem. (MH)
2. A pastor for the Ephesians.
3. Among 7 who accompanied Paul when he left Ephesus.
4. These men were helping Paul to deliver the love offering from the Gentile churches to the
poor saints of Judea.
5. Tychicus and Onesimus delivered the Ephesian letter and the Colossian letter along with
the letter to Philemon.
v. 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
v. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts;
A. Sent for the same purpose—to know your estate:
1. He was willing to hear from them as they could be to hear from him, and thought himself
as much obliged to sympathize with them as he thought them obliged to sympathize
with him. (MH)
2. It is a great comfort, under the troubles and difficulties of life, to have mutual concern of
fellow-Christians. (MH)
v. 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
v. 9 and with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will let you know everything about the situation here [in Rome].
A. Onesimus
1. A servant who had ran away from Philemon and then got saved under Paul in Rome.
2. Onesimus was sent back from Rome with Tychicus. (MH)
3. Though he was a poor servant, and had been a bad man, yet, being a new convert, Paul
calls him a faithful and beloved brother. (MH)
4. The meanest circumstances of life, and greatest wickedness of former life, make no
difference in the spiritual relation among sincere Christians: they partake of the same
privileges, and are entitles to the same regards. (MH)
B. Who is one of you:
That is, either who is from your city, or one of your own people and nation. It is clear from
this, that Onesimus was from Phrygia, and probably from the city of Colossae itself. (AB)
C. They shall make known:
Paul wrote only those things which would be of permanent interest. Other matters he left for
those who carried the epistle. (AB)
v. 10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
v. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);
A. Aristarchus
1. A “fellow-prisoner,”; a Thessalonian who accompanied Paul on his third missionary
journey. (CM)
2. At the uproar in Ephesus; he endangered his own life on behalf of the gospel. (CM)
3. He sailed with Paul to Rome—endured shipwreck from the storm. (CM)
4. Those who join in services and sufferings should be thereby engaged to another in holy
love. (MH)
5. He was there when the people of Ephesus rioted in the Temple of Diana and was so much
in the forefront that he was captured by the mob. (WB)
6. It may be that he had actually enrolled himself as Paul’s slave in order that he might be
allowed to make the last journey with him. He was the type of man whenever Paul was
in bad trouble he was there. (WB)
7. Nothing further is certainly known of him, though “the Greeks say he was a bishop in
Syrian, and was beheaded with Paul at Rome under Nero.” (AB)
Mark (Marcus)
1. Made peace with Paul. Nephew to Barnabas. Confrontation over Mark. (CM)
2. Paul was here an example of a truly Christian forgiving spirit. If men have been guilty of a
fault, it must not be always remembered against them. We must forget as well as
forgive. (MH)
3. Became friend to Peter. May have written the Gospel of Mark with Peter. (CM)
4. Tradition says that Mark went as a missionary to Egypt and found the Church of
Alexandria. What was in the interim we do not know that he was with Paul in his last
imprisonment who had once again come to look on him as a most useful man to have
around. (WB)
5. And now Paul, with his habitual courtesy and thoughtfulness, is making sure that Mark’s
past will not stand in his way by giving him full approval as one of his trusted friends.
(WB)
v. 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
v. 11 and from Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision (Jewish Christians), and they have proved to be an encouragement and a comfort to me.
A. Jesus (Justus) (MH)
1. Was a common name. Called Justus; a Roman surname. Greek name for Hebrew Joshua.
2. It is probable that he changed his name to Justus, in honor to the name of the Redeemer.
B. Who are of the circumcision:
Jews or Jewish Christians. Nothing more is known of Justus.
v. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
v. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you in his prayers, praying with genuine concern, [pleading] that you may [as people of character and courage] stand firm, [spiritually mature] and fully assured in all the will of God.
A. Epaphras—the same as Epaphroditus: (CM)
1. Founder of Colossian church.
2. Came to Paul for help due to heresies such as Gnosticism.
3. This passage would seem to mean that he was, in fact, the overseer of the Churches in the
group of three towns, Hierapolis, Laodicaea, and Colossae. (WB)
B. Praying fervently for them:
1. Epaphras had learned of Paul to be much in prayer for his friends. (MH)
2. Greek= “agonizing”; The word denotes the intense desire which he had for their salvation;
his fervent, earnest pleading for their welfare. (AB)
C. Stand perfect and complete:
1. To stand perfect and complete in all the will of God is what we should earnestly desire
both for ourselves and others. (MH)
2. We must stand complete in all the will of God in the will of his precepts by a universal
obedience, and in the will of his providence by a cheerful submission to it: and we
stand perfect and complete in both by constancy and perseverance unto the end. (MH)
v. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
v. 13 For I testify for him that he has worked strenuously for you and for the believers in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
A. Continuing with Epaphras’ zeal:
1. He had great concern for Colossae and the surrounding cities as testified by Paul.
v. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
v. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
A. Luke:
1. Beloved Gentile physician.
2. May have been among the 70; may have been one of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
3. Traveling companion of Paul. Experienced the ship destruction.
3. Skill as a doctor is a useful accomplishment in a minister and may be improved to more
extensive usefulness and greater esteem among Christians. (MH)
4. He is supposed to have been a native Cyrene, and to have died in Achaia, soon after the
martyrdom of Paul, at the advanced of 84. (AB)
B. Demas:
1. It is pathetic to compare Demas here according to his situation in 2 Tim. 4:10
2. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica.”
3. Many who have made a great figure in profession, and gained a great name among
Christians, have yet shamefully apostatized. (MH)
v. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
v. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
Nymphas: (CM)
1. Church was in his or her house.
2. If Nympha this it is a Christian lady who is meant.
3. Was a person of outstanding wealth and importance in the church of Laodicea.
4. It wasn’t until the 3rd Century that Christians meet in buildings outside of home. This is
when Christianity became the state religion. Pastors were on the state payroll. Lead
to some twisted doctrines.
v. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
v. 16 When this letter has been read among you, see that it is read in the church of the Laodiceans; and also that you in turn read my letter [that is coming to you] from Laodicea.
A. Letter to Laodiceans:
1. Pass it along to the Colossians.
2. If an epistle was written for the Laodiceans, it has been forever lost.
3. But some think it was the epistle to the Ephesians, which is still in existence.
4. Laodicea was near to Colossae, and the church there was evidently exposed to the same
dangers from philosophy and false teachers as they at Colossae. (AB)
B. Letter to Colossae:
1. Pass it along to the Laodiceans to read as well.
2. Laodicea was often damaged by earthquakes, but was restored by the Roman Emperors.
Laodicea is now just a name. The ruins of Laodicea and Hierapolis are very extensive. (AB)
v. 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
v. 17 And say to Archippus, “See to it that you fulfill [carefully the duties of] the ministry which you have received in the Lord.”
A. Archippus; (CM)
1. Mentioned in Philemon. May have been his son.
2. Apparently also ministering at Colossae.
3. They bidden to admonish him to mind his work as a minister, to take heed to it, and to
fulfil it—to be diligent and careful of all the parts of it, and to persevere in it unto the
end. (MH)
4. Possibly settled down comfortably and taking things easy. Suggested due to “take heed.”
Observe, what comfort the apostle had in the communion of saints and ministers! One is his fellow-servant, another his fellow-prisoner, and all his fellow-workers, who were working out their own salvation and endeavoring to promote salvation to others. (MH)
v. 18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
v. 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. May grace (God’s unmerited favor and blessing) be with you.
Paul’s trademark of an epistle was “Grace be with you.”
Summary from Chuck Missler:
1. We are complete in Christ.
2. We should beware of any teaching that claims to give us “something more” than we already have
in Christ Jesus.
3. All of God’s fullness is in Him and He has perfectly equipped us for the life God wants us to live.
4. We do not live by addition, but by appropriation. May the Lord help us to live as those who are
indeed, complete in Christ.
