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Col.4:1. Masters, show your slaves what is due and just, knowing that you also have a Lord in heaven. “Lord, give truth and justice to your slaves, knowing that you also have the Lord in heaven.” What the Apostle called “equation” was not equality of honor, but proper care, which servants should also receive from their masters. Col.4:2. Be constant in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving. “Be patient in prayer, watchful in it with thanksgiving.” For one must first give thanks for what has been given and then make a petition. Col.4:3. Pray also for us, that God will open the door for us to speak, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Col.4:4. So that I may reveal it as I should proclaim it. “Praying for us together, that God may open the doors of the word for us, speak the mystery of Christ.” The apostle showed his usual humility; but it also teaches us not to rely on ourselves, but to seek mutual help from each other. “It is for her sake that I am bound,” “let me show you as it is fitting for me to speak.” He pointed out the reason for his bonds, for he says: they make the sermon more obvious. So in the Epistle to the Philippians he said: “For my bonds have been made manifest in Christ, judged in all things and in all others” (Phil. 1:13). Col.4:5. Treat outsiders wisely, using your time. “In wisdom go ye to those who are outside,” that is, to those who have not yet believed. Do not give them, says the Apostle, any reason for harm, use all measures to save them. "Time is Redeeming". The present age is not yours; Therefore, use it as you should, and make it your own, redeeming it with good deeds. Col.4:6. Let your word always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you know how to answer everyone. “Let your word always be in grace, mixed with salt.” Adorn yourself with spiritual prudence. So the Lord commanded the apostles to have salt in themselves (Mark 9:50) and called them salt themselves (Matthew 5:13). The Apostle teaches how to achieve this. “Lead as it is fitting for you alone to answer each other.” For teaching must be offered differently to the unfaithful, and otherwise to the faithful, differently to the perfect, and otherwise to the imperfect, differently to the weak, and otherwise to the healthy. Col.4:7. Tychicus, beloved brother and faithful servant and co-worker in the Lord, will tell you everything about me. Col.4:8. whom I sent to you so that he might learn about your circumstances and comfort your hearts. Col.4:9. With Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is from you. They will tell you about everything here. “Even about me, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant and co-worker in the Lord, will tell you everything,” “whom he sent to you on this matter, so that he will understand what is about us and comfort your hearts,” “with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is from you: everything will be told to you, even here.” Onesimus was Philemon's servant. The Divine Apostle, having announced him in prison, sent him to the master. since in the letter he said that he intended to keep him with him, but did not want to do this without the will of Philemon, it is likely that Philemon returned Onesimus. But the divine Apostle again sent him with Tychicus, who had already become an assistant in the preaching. The wisdom of the Apostle can also be gleaned from the fact that he entrusted both to inform about him (since he says: “They will tell you everything that is here”), and left Tychicus alone to console, for he says: “Let him understand what is about us, and comfort your hearts.” since they knew that Onesimus was a slave, and would probably have been upset that yesterday and the day before, a former slave was suddenly recognized as capable of consoling and teaching the whole Church, the Apostle said that Tychicus alone had been sent to do this. And he found it appropriate for both to announce the Apostle, showing honor to Onesimus and not offending the Colossians. Col.4:10. Aristarchus, imprisoned with me, and Mark, nephew of Barnabas (about whom you received orders: if he comes to you, receive him) greet you. “You kiss my captive Aristarchus.” He was from Thessalonica, as blessed Luke reports, and came with Paul to Judea, and from there went with him to Rome. The Apostle called him a captive as an accomplice in enduring suffering. “And Marco anepsius Varnavin, concerning him he received the commandment: if he comes to you, receive him.” And this makes it clear that the Apostle, having already seen the Colossians, wrote the epistle, because after the dispute he had with blessed Barnabas about Mark, he taught teaching in Phrygia and Galatia. Therefore, it is likely that at this time he gave commandments about them. When he comes, he orders that he be given the honor that belongs to a teacher. Col.4:11. Also Jesus, called Justus, both of the circumcision. They are the only workers for the Kingdom of God who have been my joy. “I am Jesus, called Justus, who is of the circumcision; these are the only companions in the Kingdom of God, who were my consolation.” This is the greatest praise - for the Apostle to become the source of joy. Col.4:12. Epaphras, your servant of Jesus Christ, greets you, always striving for you in prayer, so that you may remain perfect and fulfilled with everything that pleases God. “You kiss Epaphras, one of your kind, the servant of Christ.” Epaphras, as we said above, was their fellow citizen. “Always strive for you in prayer, that you may be perfect and fulfilled in all the will of God.” Of necessity, he pointed out Epaphras’s goodwill towards them, so that they would listen more diligently to his teaching. Col.4:13. I testify of him that he has great zeal and care for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. “I testify about him that he has much jealousy for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.” These cities are close to one another and both are in Phrygia. Col.4:14. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. “You kiss Luke the beloved doctor, and Dimas.” This Luke wrote both the Divine Gospel and the history of Acts. And from this it is clear that the last of all the epistles written by Paul was the Second Epistle to Timothy, for it says there about Demas: “Forsake Demas for me, having loved this present age” (2 Tim. 4:10). Col.4:15. Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and his house church. “Kiss the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and his house church.” He, most likely, was one of the faithful in Laodicea and, having decorated it with piety, converted his house into a church. Col.4:16. When this message is read to you, then arrange for it to be read in the Laodicean church; and the one from Laodicea, read it too. “And when this epistle is read among you, do it, that it may also be read in the Laodicean church, and that which is written from Laodicea may also be read by you.” Others have suggested that Paul also wrote to the Laodiceans; That’s why they present a false message. But the divine Apostle said: “what is written” is not to Laodicea, but “from Laodicea.” For the Laodiceans wrote to the Apostle about something, probably either blaming the Colossians for what happened among them, or suffering from the same illness as them. That is why the Apostle ordered the message to be read to them as well. Col.4:17. Tell Archippus: see that you fulfill the ministry that you have accepted in the Lord. “And cry to Archippus: observe the service that you have undertaken in the Lord, so that you may complete it.” Some have argued that Archippus was a teacher in Laodicea, but the Epistle to Philemon informs that he lived in Colosse, because the Apostle joins him with Philemon. Col. 4:18. Greetings from my hand, Pavlova. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you all. Amen. “Kissing Paul with my hand.” The Apostle added this, letting them know that he boldly commands them not to keep the law. “Remember my bonds,” that is, compete and imitate me and patiently endure the sorrows you encounter. Grace be with you, amen. And we must always remember these bonds, and gain benefit from this remembrance, and pray not to fall into temptation; and if this happens to us, love God’s economy, and show our own courage, and call on the grace of God for help. For in this way it will be possible to strive, and to win, and to be worthy of praise in Christ. With Him be glory and splendor to the Father with the All-Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages! Amen. The Epistle to the Colossians was written from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus. You might be interested in: