Colossians 4 bible study

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The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians Living like a Christian 2 - 6 4.2. Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

The Christian life should centre around prayer, that is, communion with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Without prayer it is impossible to live the Christian or Christ like life. It isn't something that can be done haphazardly or when we feel like it but we should "pray without ceasing" (1Thes,. 5: 17). The first step of a born again believer is to learn to pray and then to continue to do so. To be earnest and steadfast and never wearied by it but ever alert. This is something the disciples failed to do in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asked them to (Math. 26: 41). All prayer is to be entered into and made with "thanksgiving" (Phil. 4: 6). We are to persevere in prayer and not give up easily.

4. 3 - 4. At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should.

Prayer is to be made for specific things it has to be purposeful. Here Paul asks that prayer should be made for himself and those that are labouring with him in the gospel. First of all that God would open the door of opportunity to preach the good news of salvation to the lost (1 Cor. 16: 9). Note that it is God that gives the opportunity to witness. It does not say that we have to wedge our foot in the door and force our way in. It is because Paul was obedient to the call of God and boldly witnessed to God's saving grace that he is bound by chains in a prison in Rome (Eph. 6: 20). Secondly he asks for prayer that he would be enabled to speak boldly, clearly and to give the full message of salvation as it is his duty to do so. To summarize the life of a Christian up to this point it is 1. A prayerful life. 2. Praying for opportunities of witness 3. Proclaiming the gospel message with boldness.

4.5. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

Next comes our behaviour before the unsaved. We are to behave wisely before them and to be careful what we say and do - not to give any reason for them to point a finger at us (Math. 10: 16).

Make the most of our time that we have to take a hold of the opportunities giving us to serve the Lord in whatever capacity he may have given us.

4.6. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Our conversation with others should always be pleasant, courteous loving and appealing in order to win them for Christ (Mark 9: 50).

Character References 7 - 15 There now follows a list of people whom Paul gives a character reference to:4.7 - 8. Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

Tychicus: This is a brother who is greatly loved by Paul and many other believers. He commends him for his faithfulness in ministering to the needs of others. He could be depended upon and was always there when needed, he was also a fellow labourer serving Christ. Paul's purpose in sending him to Colosse with this letter was to tell them how things were with him and also to bring back news of how they were going on in Christ. He could therefore be trusted to give an accurate report to both party's.

4.9. I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Onesimus: This was the runaway slave of Philemon and a thief before he met Paul but he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savour (Philemon 10). Before coming to Christ he was no good to anybody but now Paul could testify of his love for him and how trustworthy and profitable he had become (Philemon 11). Onesimus was from Colosse and was returning there to ask forgiveness of his master Philemon and to take the letter to him that Paul had written. He was also to let them know what was happening to Paul in Rome.

4.10. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him).

Aristarchus: When Paul was at Ephesus and caused the great riot there in preaching the gospel it was Aristarchus along with Gaius who was arrested (Acts 19:29). Here we see that he was now a prisoner bound with chains along with Paul. Although in such circumstances he still thought about others and sends greeting to those in a better position than he was. What a commendation and testimony!

Mark: This is John Mark cousin of Barnabas who had deserted Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13: 13) and with whom he had a difference about with Barnabas (Acts 15: 37 - 39). What the Colossians had been told concerning Mark we do not know but he and Paul had been reconciled and he was now ministering to him (2 Tim. 4:11). They were to give him a warm welcome should he come to them (perhaps not to hold anything against him if they had heard of his previous behaviour).

4.11. And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Jesus: Whose surname was Justus we are not told much about him except that he was a fellow worker with Paul. These three were the only Jews who were working alongside of Paul for the kingdom of God and were a great comfort to him in his imprisonment.

4.12 - 13. Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Epaphras: Another citizen of Colosse who sends greetings to them via Paul and was in fact a leader of the church there and was visiting Paul in Rome. The testimony of this man was that of a prayer warrior. He didn't just pray but he fervently worked at it on their behalf that they may stand firm and grow in grace and walk according to the will of God. This man had completely dedicated his life to serving Christ through the church in Colosse and also in the neighbouring churches at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

4.14. Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.

Luke: The beloved doctor the writer of the gospel and the book of Acts. He had been with Paul through many trials and testings and had proved the faithfulness of God in answering prayer many times.

Demas: Paul says nothing about this man perhaps because he could see that his heart was not in the right place for later on he deserted Paul and more importantly the faith and went back into the world (2 Tim. 4:10).

4.15. (NKJV) Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

Nymphas had opened his house so that the believers in Laodicea could meet together for fellowship.

Because they had nowhere else to worship many believers were prepared to open their homes for this purpose. This was no light matter as it virtually meant making their homes public this they did willingly for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Exhortation & Blessing 16 - 18 4.16. And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well.

Paul had written a letter to the church in Laodicea the same time as to the Colossians although this is not part of the Bible and has never been found. However they were to exchange their letters so that they could share in its teachings and exhortations.

4.17. And tell Archippus, "See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord."

Archippus was a member of Philemon’s household (Philemon 2). It would seem that he was neglecting the ministry gift that the Lord had given him Paul therefore gives him a warning to obey

his calling and to minister to the body of Christ as he should. If we have received a gift from the Lord and are neglecting to use it fully then we must stir it up (2 Tim. 1: 6) and give ourselves to using it (Rom. 12: 7) otherwise we will have to give an account to the Lord as to why we did not use our gifts to strengthen, encourage and build up his people (Math. 25: 24 - 30).

4.18. I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Finally Paul signs his letter by his own hand and asks that they should remember and pray for him bound in chains (Heb. 13: 3). His blessing upon them was that the grace of God (God's unmerited favour and blessing) be with them. Amen, so be it. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org