Bible Commentaries
Colossians 4

Verse 1

Colossians 4:1

contintued: see note (Colossians 3:22)

Verse 2

Colossians 4:2

#5 Preeminence Demonstrated in Christian Living - 4:2-6

Thanks -- Mentioned by Paul six times in this short letter.

Colossians 1:3; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 2:7; Colossians 3:15; Colossians 3:17; Colossians 4:2

Verse 3

Colossians 4:3

Withal -- "Meanwhile" NKJV; also, at the same time.

Note two things he asks them to pray for:

1) For an open door for the Word

2) That he might speak as he ought; Colossians 4:4

(Didn’t ask them to pray that he might be released!)

Verse 4

Colossians 4:4

Manifest -- NIV, "that I may proclaim it clearly as I should."

Manifest -- 1) clearly - 4:4 2) boldly - Ephesians 6:19; 3) graciously Colossians 4:6

Verse 5

Colossians 4:5

Them that are without -- It is important how we are viewed by others, especially "outsiders."

Redeeming the time -- Lit. "buy up the time" 2 Timothy 4:2, wise use of our opportunities. "Buy up", we can’t "buy back" time, for one’s wise use.

Verse 6

Colossians 4:6

Salt -- pure and penetrating; v.6 especially relates to outsiders of verse 5. Today "salty speech" refers to profanity, but not here.

1 Peter 3:15

Verse 7

Colossians 4:7

Tychicus ..

1. Acts 20:4 -- In the group that bore the offering from Asia

2. Ephesians 6:21-22 -- Delivered letter (? Ephesus, Colossae)

3. Colossians 4:7 -- The apparent deliverer of this letter to the Colossians.

4. 2 Timothy 4:12 -- Sent to Ephesus on another trip.

5. Titus 3:12 -- Paul considered sending him on another mission.

Verse 8

Colossians 4:8

#6 Preeminence Demonstrated in Christian Service - 4:8-18

Comfort -- Encourage, Tychicus to do this.

Verse 9

Colossians 4:9

Onesimus -- Philemon 1:10

Verse 10

Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner -- My fellow-captive (Latin Versions, concaptivus), fellow-prisoner-of-war. So Epaphras is called, Philemon 1:23 (where see note). And so Andronicus and Junias, Romans 16:7. The word indicates either that Aristarchus was, or had been, in prison with St Paul in the course of his missionary warfare, or that he was now in such close attendance on him that St Paul lovingly calls it an imprisonment.

The name Aristarchus occurs here, in Philemon, and Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Acts 27:2; and it is morally certain that we have one man in all these places. He was a Thessalonian; he accompanied St Paul on his third journey, and was, with Gaius, seized at Ephesus, when the riot broke out. (Just possibly, the word fellow-captive may be a free allusion to that terrible hour.) He was with St Paul later when he returned from Greece to Asia, and either accompanied or followed him on to Syria, for he sails with him from Syria for Rome. We know no more of him; tradition makes him bishop of Apamea, in Asia Minor, east of Colossæ. - SBSC

Marcus ... Although Mark was a source of contention between Paul and Barnabas at the beginning of the second missionary journey, we see him working with Paul and highly favored a few years later (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). Mark also worked with Peter and is referred to as his "son" much like Timothy was by Paul.

I. The Men Who Stayed

(4) v. 10, v.11, v.14a

Aristarchus, Marcus, Barnabas, Justus

II. The Man Who Prayed

v. 12, 13 Epaphras

III. The Man Who Strayed

v.14-b Demas

Philemon Col 4:14; see 2Ti. (1Jo 2:15-17)

Verse 11

Colossians 4:11

Verse 12

Colossians 4:12

Verse 13

Colossians 4:13

Verse 14

Colossians 4:14

Verse 15

Colossians 4:15

Verse 16

Colossians 4:16

Verse 17

Colossians 4:17

Archippus -- Apparently the preacher at Colossae. See Philemon 1:2

Verse 18

Colossians 4:18