Colossians 4
CHAPTER 4
Colossians 4:1-18 . EXHORTATIONS CONTINUED. TO PRAYER: WISDOM IN RELATION TO THE UNCONVERTED: AS TO THE BEARERS OF THE EPISTLE, TYCHICUS AND ONESIMUS: CLOSING SALUTATIONS.
1. give--Greek "render": literally, "afford."
equal--that is, as the slaves owe their duties to you, so you equally owe to them your duties as masters. Compare "ye masters do the same things" ALFORD translates, "fairness," "equity," which gives a large and liberal interpretation of justice in common matters ( Philemon 1:16 ).
knowing--( Colossians 3:24 ).
ye also--as well as they.
2. Continue--Greek, "Continue perseveringly," "persevere" ( Ephesians 6:18 ), "watching thereunto"; here, "watch in the same," or "in it," that is, in prayer: watching against the indolence as to prayer, and in prayer, of our corrupt wills.
with thanksgiving--for everything, whether joyful, or sorrowful, mercies temporal and spiritual, national, family, and individual ( 1 Corinthians 14:17 , Philippians 4:6 , 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ).
3. for us--myself and Timothy ( Colossians 1:1 ).
a door of utterance--Translate, "a door for the word." Not as in Ephesians 6:19 , where power of "utterance" is his petition. Here it is an opportunity for preaching the word, which would be best afforded by his release from prison ( 1 Corinthians 16:9 , 2 Corinthians 2:12 , 1:22 , Revelation 3:8 ).
to speak--so that we may speak.
the mystery of Christ--( Colossians 1:27 ).
for which . . . also--on account of which I am (not only "an ambassador," Ephesians 6:20 , but) ALSO in bonds.
4. ALFORD thinks that Paul asks their prayers for his release as if it were the "only" way by which he could "make it (the Gospel) manifest" as he ought. But while this is included in their subject of prayer, Philippians 1:12 Philippians 1:13 , written somewhat later in his imprisonment, clearly shows that "a door for the word" could be opened, and was opened, for its manifestation, even while he remained imprisoned (compare 2 Timothy 2:9 ).
in wisdom--practical Christian prudence.
them . . . without--Those not in the Christian brotherhood ( 1 Corinthians 5:12 , 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ). The brethren, through love, will make allowances for an indiscreet act or word of a brother; the world will make none. Therefore be the more on your guard in your intercourse with the latter, lest you be a stumbling-block to their conversion.
redeeming the time--The Greek expresses, buying up for yourselves, and buying off from worldly vanities the opportunity, whenever it is afforded you, of good to yourselves and others. "Forestall the opportunity, that is, to buy up an article out of the market, so as to make the largest profit from it" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].