Verse 1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Remember that chapters and verses were added to the Scripture centuries after it was written and compiled. Colossians is a letter and should be read all at one time. The verse above is an extension of Paul’s teaching and commandments in chapter three. He had addressed Christian behavior in servants starting in verse 22 of chapter three and now he is addressing Christian behavior in the masters of these servants. Since the LORD Jesus Christ was/is the believing master’s Master, the servants should be treated as Christ treats the Church.
Verses 2-4 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 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: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Paul wrote this letter while a prisoner in Rome. His crime was preaching and teaching about Jesus and teaching that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that there was indeed a bodily resurrection from the dead as evidenced by the resurrection of Jesus. Even though he was facing a difficult existence and an uncertain future, his request for prayer was that God would make a way for him to continue to preach the Gospel.
Verses 5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Paul knew how to talk to nonbelievers. He was constantly teaching in the synagogues and doing street evangelism. He is cautioning the Colossian believers to be wise when living, working and witnessing to unbelievers and not to waste their time on anyone who will not listen to the truth of the Gospel. They were to demonstrate speech or communication that was not offensive and argumentative and answer every person with respect and grace.
Application: It is not the Christian’s responsibility to get a person saved and into the Kingdom of God. It is God’s responsibility. It is His Spirit that draws a person towards the truth of the Gospel. The believer’s only responsibility is to tell a person about Jesus. If the person rejects the message of the Gospel, they are not rejecting the believer, but they are rejecting God. To continue to press that person for repentance and conversion is time wasted that could be shared with someone who is seeking a relationship with Christ and who does not know how to become a believer. That is why Paul admonishes believers to redeem the time. Use the time given on this Earth to reach the people God has readied for the Gospel message.
Verses 7-9 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 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.
The name, Tychicus, means “fateful”. He was a companion of Paul and a fellow worker in the Christian faith. He was most likely the person that delivered this epistle to the Colossian church.
Onesimus was a runaway servant of one called Philemon, whose name is the title of another epistle written by Paul. Onesimus’ name means “profitable or useful” and he aided the apostle Paul until Paul sent him back to his master to make amends.
Verses 10-11 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Aristarchus’ name means “the best ruler”, and he came from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. See chapters 20 and 27 in the book of Acts. At the writing of this epistle, Aristarchus was in jail with the apostle Paul.
Marcus was either a nephew or a cousin of Barnabas and he wrote the Gospel of Mark. His name means “a defense”.
Barnabas was a companion and fellowworker with the apostle Paul until they had a disagreement and went their separate ways, both continuing to preach and teach the Gospel of Christ Jesus. His name means “son of rest”.
Jesus was a Jewish Christian who worked with Paul in the ministry. His name means “Jehovah is salvation”.
Application: The name, Jesus, is “Iesous” in the Greek and it can mean Joshua or Justus, as well as Jesus. The name in any of the three forms means basically “salvation”. In Jesus’ day, the name was commonly used. Luke 2:21 records, “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Remember that names were important in Bible times and children were named based on the attribute found in a particular name. Because Jesus is the Savior, the name Joshua in the Hebrew or Jesus in the Greek was chosen before the foundation of the world.
Verses 12-13 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. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras most likely was from Colosse based on the verse above, and his name means “lovely”. He was what today is called a prayer warrior. Prayer takes time and work, and Epaphras was serious about praying for the Church.
Verse 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He traveled with Jesus and then with Paul in his missionary ministry. He was a Gentile Christian and his name means “light-giving”.
Verses 15-16 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 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.
Nymphas is thought to have been a wealthy Christian from Laodicea. His name means “bridegroom”. This is the only verse in the Scripture where he is mentioned, but apparently he had a church that met in his house.
Application: The early Church is the example that churches today fail to follow. The Church was the people who gathered in small groups in the houses of fellow believers. God never intended churches to be giant buildings seating hundreds of people. Why? Because a pastor cannot possible tend to his sheep if there are too many for him to minister to. Today some mainstream evangelical churches are more like sports stadiums than places to worship the LORD. Why? Sadly to say, the more people in attendance, the greater the offering and the larger the salaries of those in leadership roles. Church was never meant to be about numbers or money, but to be a place where Jesus wants to be and where people can feel His presence and fellowship one with another.
Verses 17-18 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
Application: Like Archippus, every believer has received a ministry. Sometimes the believer is unsure of what that ministry is. But ministry is more that pastoring a church, being a missionary in a foreighn country, or leading the choir. Ministry is anywhere God places a person. No matter where a believer is living and working, there will be unsaved souls that need the Gospel.