Chapter 4

4:1: Interestingly, some Greek and Roman Philosophers warned slave-masters that "they too could become slaves one day and so they should treat their slaves right". The fun part is that they are missing the point. We are all already under the authority of God. Whether we decide to listen to Him or not doesn't change our position. We are all under his authority as a Master. Paul appeals to the fact that because we all have a master in heaven that they should treat their slaves rightly. Paul even tells Philemon to "no longer take him(Onesimus) in as a slave but as a brother".

4:2: All prayer should be done with thanksgiving. (also see Philippians 4:6)

4:3: Paul asked the Colossians to pray for an opportunity for the word so that they may spread the mystery of Christ (which is effectively God's plan of redemption found in the gospel).

4:4: Those who are in the world speak like the world. Those who are in Christ speak like Christ. (1 John 4:5)

4:5 : "walk in wisdom toward outsiders..." When we walk towards outsiders, the Bible gives us three attributes to walk in: wisdom, gentleness, and fear. This wisdom is not "puffing up" or pure knowledge but a Godly wisdom in the word and an understanding of God that allows you to speak what each person needs to hear. It is also important to note that this attribute of "fear" is not a fear of men but rather a fear of the Lord. In order to "redeem the time" our words must be precise and spent wisely in grace. Also important to note is that this is not a intellectual knowledge or assertion but a transformative and practical wisdom.

4:6: John says that those who are in the world speak like the world (1 John 4:5). Contrasting that with this verse, those who are in Christ will speak like Christ. The "essence" of our speech is grace. "salt..." Our words should be lively and lasting.

4:7: "Tychicus..." A fellow worker and brother in the faith. Sent to the churches at Colossae and Ephesus as well as brother Philemon.

4:8: Paul was sending Tychicus to encourage them and tell them about Paul's circumstances.

4:9: The same Onesimus as in the letter to Philemon. He had run away from Philemon, and after meeting Paul, was now being reconciled to Philemon by being sent to Colossae with Tychicus. History also records a Bishop of Ephesus in the early second century by the name of Onesimus but we cannot be certain that it is the same man.

4:10: "Aristarchus my fellow prisoner..." Aristarchus was a Macedonian (from Thessalonica) and became a travel companion and co-worker (in the faith) of Paul. Here the term "fellow prisoner" may not be saying that Aristarchus was in chains and imprisoned alongside Paul but rather that he supported and helped Paul while Paul was imprisoned. "Mark..." This is John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. When he was with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey he abandoned them to return home and caused tension between Paul and Barnabas. Here, however, Paul has been already spiritually reconciled to Mark and Barnabas and was essentially "commending" them as brothers in the faith.

4:11: "Justus..." nothing outside of this text is known of this man. we can come to two conclusions based off this verse: The first is that he was a fellow worker of the kingdom alongside of Paul. That much is obvious. The second conclusion we can come to is that Justus was a Jew. We can know this because of the fact that he is labeled as being in the "Circumcision" and secondarily that his given name was a common Jew name.

4:11-12: Here we can see a transition from Jewish workers of the kingdom (or "those of the circumcision") into Gentile workers. The historical fact that Jews and Gentiles were working together would have been profound.

4:12: "Epaphras..." See notes on 1:7. "Striving in his prayers for you..." The Greek text here points to a sense of "striving in the agony of a contest" or a form of athletic sport / competition. Epaphras was agonizingly striving in his prayers for them that they might become "perfect" (complete and mature) in Christ.

4:13: "Hierapolis..." A military state located six miles north of Laodicea. It was known for its strange mysterious occult groups and practices.
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4:14: "Luke the Beloved Physician..." He was likely well educated and was a companion of Paul. He likely attended to many of Paul's physical ailments and needs. "Demas..." Although he was listed here alongside fellow workers of the kingdom, he later abandoned Paul and went to Thessalonica. (2 Timothy 4:10)

4:15: "Nympha..." She was likely a widow or a wealthy woman. If she were not a widow her husband would have likely been named as the house owner/keeper rather than her. As you can glean from the text, A church was hosted in her house.

4:16 : "letter from Laodicea..." typically recognized in one of two ways: either as an unknown,
lost and forgotten letter or the letter to the Ephesians.

4:17: "Archippus..." Possibly the son of Philemon (Philemon 1:2) due to his name being listed in Philemon's household. Only mentioned here and in Philemon verse 2.

4:18: The letter was likely dictated to a scribe and closed by Paul's own writing. Essentially an ancient signature.