CHAPTER 4

The sea, if it were not tossed by winds, would be a calm
STINKIN' mess!
Likewise, it is the same with men.
If we were not tossed with winds of affliction, we would never
gain comprehension of need to apply ourselves.

Jesus is Who we NEED more than anything else.
And, His grace is sufficient for all our needs!

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal;
knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Remember our theme, which was in the last chapter?
"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and
not unto men!"

If would be unfair for an employer to withhold from an
employee their rightful earnings! God is WATCHING!

Let us not withhold from others the work and love that is
due them, else we may impeach the grace of our Lord!

2-4
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
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.

Edward E. Hale was once chaplain for the U.S. Senate.
Someone asked him, "Dr. Hale, what do you pray for the
senators?"
He answered, "I LOOK at the senators and PRAY for the
COUNTRY!"

Christians, it is important to pray for our missionaries, AND
our pastors!
Pray that God will open doors for them to speak.
Pray that God will supply them with the words they need
to speak!
Pray also, that those who come before the missionaries
and pastors will have ears to HERE!

Next we enter a word for Christians.

5-6
5 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.

WALK intimates our LIVING!
One might paraphrase to say, "LIVE in wisdom toward those
who are OUTSIDE the faith of Jesus."

Let your mouth reflect your living with Christ's Holy Spirit
in your heart!
REDEEM the time you are able to spend with others
by choosing your words carefully!

7-9
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved
brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant of the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might
know your esate, and comfort your hearts;
9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of
you. They shall make known to you all things which are done here.

Tychicus is known to have traveled with Paul several times.
He is mentioned in Acts 20:4, Eph. 6:21, here in Col. 4:7,
2Tim 4:12, and Titus 3:12.

Note: Paul called him a beloved brother and a
faithful minister and a fellowservant of the Lord.
Paul sends him as a emissary to share what is happening
Colossians is one of Paul's prison letters from Rome.

Note also that Onesimus is accompanying Tychicus for the
same purpose. He is also called a beloved brother and
one of you.
This lets us know that Onesimus was from (at least) the area
and perhaps from the city of Colosse.

Paul sent the letter to the Colossians WITH the two men, so
that they could not only read the letter, but have conversations
with the two men.

10-11
10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus,
sister's son to Barnabus,(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 was from Thessolinica and is mentioned in
Acts 19:29 and 20:4. Then in Acts 27:2 it is said that he
accompanied Paul on the trip to Rome.

Marcus is Paul's nephew. It was about this man that Paul and
Barnabus had a disagreement. Barnabus and Paul split teams
then, and Marcus (John Mark) went with Barnabus.
But, now, he is with Paul and it is recommended to receive him
if he comes to Colosse.

These two men were fellow Christians, and had brought great
comfort to Paul in his imprisonment.

12-13
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.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you,
and them that are in Lodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Obviously ALL these men prayed together.
And Paul had particularly noticed how Epaphrus prayed for
The Colossians and others.

Each Wednesday morning, I am fortunate to join 20-25 men
who gather for prayer at a local golf course.
They express their care for others in the prayers that are made.

Let me urge you, if you are not a member of a special prayer
group, to join one - or better, START one!

14 Luke, the belived physician, and Demas, greet you.

Luke was a physician, and a devoted Christian.
In our prayer group (mentioned before) we have a retired
physician. Each time we meet, he has a special prayer
request for someone he knows that is in need.

Demas also is there with Paul.
Paul was in Rome when He wrote Philemon, and Demas is
mentioned as a fellowlabourer.
2nd Timothy was also written while Paul was in Rome.
In Chapter 4 of that letter, Paul mentions that Demas had
forsaken him because he loved this present
world.
Perhaps Paul was quite saddened at the departure, but he
also mention that Demas had gone to Thessalonica.
It is very possible that Demas had departed because he
did not especially want to die in Rome, but would rather
be ministering for the Lord somewhere.

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas,
and the church which is in his house.

Laodicea was only about 13 miles (19KM) from Colosse.
Probably, they traded with each other.
Therefore, some of the members in Colosse knew some of
the members from the church in Laodicea.

Nymphas is nowhere mentioned in the New Testament; so,
we know nothing about him except that he had a church
meeting 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 then in Hierapolis.

Paul intended that the letter he wrote be ciruclated to the
church in Laodicea.
Remember, this letter has a theme of putting Jesus FIRST,
in life, and doing ALL things we do to glorify Him.

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou
hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Archippus is mentioned also in Philemon 2, and is said to
have a church in his house.
Nothing else is known about him.

We should ALL take heed to the ministry with
which we are charged in Matt. 28:18-20!!
We Christians, should ALL be faithful and obedient to the
mandate of sharing Jesus with others!!
Our business as Christians, is all about sharing the
GOOD NEWS of salvation through Jesus Christ.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my
bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Paul, even though he was imprisoned, still desired to not only
communicate with them - but to communicate purposefully

And, his compassion toward them was exhibited in his final
statement, and he prayed, "GRACE be with you.

I wonder how many letters have been written with no such
ending?

Are we Christians aware that we are supposed to reflect the
Lord Jesus in ALL that we do?

Allow me to close this commentary on Colossians with this
thought: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto
the Lord, and not unto men."