Colossians 4:1-18
Notes:
Paul closes his letter to the Colossians with final instructions on Christian behavior, followed by salutations and greetings:
- Instructions to masters (v. 1)
- Final instructions to the church (vs. 2-6)
- Salutations and greetings (vs. 7-14)
- Concerning the Laodicean church and others (vs. 15-18)
Instructions to masters
Paul adds one final set of instructions directed to a specific group of believers – those who have rule over others. (v. 1)
- They are to practice giving to others:
- Justly
- With equality
- They are to remember their Master in heaven and how He treats them.
Final instructions to the church
Paul finishes his instruction on the believer’s walk by reinforcing the following:
- Prayer (v. 2)
- Watchfulness (v. 2)
- Thanksgiving (v. 2)
- Prayer for Paul and others who preach the gospel, that doors of opportunity would open and that he would have liberty to spread the truth of the gospel. (v. 3-4)
- Be wise concerning those who have not received the gospel. (v. 5)
- Have a sense of urgency, realizing that there is a limited window of opportunity to reach the lost. (v. 5)
- Practice self-control of the tongue, speaking graciously to those who need the gospel, seasoning conversation with the gospel. (v. 6)
- Be prepared to answer those who may inquire about the gospel. (v. 6)
Salutations and greetings
Paul notes a series of significant people through salutations and greetings:
- Tychicus – one who Paul sends to the Colossian church to present his message. (vs. 7-8) Tychicus was:
- A brother in the faith.
- A faithful minister.
- A fellow servant with Paul.
- Sent to convey the current state of the church as a whole to the Colossians.
- Sent to comfort the church.
- Onesimus – who, accompanying Tychicus, was: (v. 9)
- A native Colossian.
- A brother in the faith.
- Faithful.
- To communicate (with Tychicus) all that Paul’s ministry was accomplishing.
- Three Jewish co-workers in ministry with Paul, who as new believers aided Paul in increasing the kingdom of God:
- Aristarchus – a prisoner along with Paul. (v. 10)
- Marcus – son of Barnabas’ sister. (v. 10)
- Jesus (also called Justus). (v. 11)
- Epaphras – a native Colossian who served with Paul, and was noted as: (vs. 12-13)
- Being a prayer warrior.
- Having great zeal (enthusiasm) for the Colossian church, as well as those from nearby regions (Laodicea and Hierapolis).
- Luke – perhaps the writer of the gospel and Acts, or another Luke who was identified as a physician. (v.14)
- Demas – although nothing specific is mentioned here about Demas, his name was recorded for eternity in God’s Word for his greeting to the Colossian church. (v. 14) It is noteworthy that Paul mentions Demas on two other occasions, once as a fellow-laborer (Philemon verse 24), and as one who had departed from Paul because of his love for “this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
Concerning the Laodicean church and others
Paul closes this letter by instructing the Colossians to salute others and to read the letter to others:
- The church at Laodicea is to be saluted (greeted) and to receive the letter. (vs.15-16)
- Nymphas was to be greeted, along with “the church which is in his house” (which seems to imply that Nymphas was a convert to Christianity who had opened his house up to minister the gospel to those in his region). (v. 15)
- The Colossians were to receive another letter from the Laodicean church. (v. 16)
- A message is sent by Paul to Archippus, encouraging him to be faithful to the ministry God had called him to. (v. 17)
The final verse (v. 18) had Paul authenticating his letter through his own salutation. He reminds the Colossians of his bondage as proof of the ministry of the gospel. In closing, he ask that God’s grace be with all at Colosse.
Questions:
- How should someone who has rule over others treat those he rules?
- Regardless of the position you reach in this world, who ultimately is Master over you? With that in mind, how should you treat others who might submit to your authority?
- What does it mean to have speech that is “seasoned with salt”?
- What are some day-to-day situations where a teen might have opportunity to speak in a manner that might promote the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost?
- What are some ways that you (as a teen) can be prepared to address questions about your faith?
- Paul asked the Colossians to pray that God would open a door so that he could present the gospel (v. 3). Do you think it’s important to pray for that “open door” for yourself? Why or why not?
- What are three things that Paul instructed the Colossians to continue doing (v. 2)? How does that instruction apply to Christian teens in today’s church?
- What is the meaning of the phrase “redeeming the time” used in verse 5?
- What positive characteristics did Tychicus and Onesimus have in common?
- Write one sentence that summarizes your understanding of the theme of the entire letter to the Colossians.
