1 He exhorts them to be fervent in prayer;
5 to walk wisely toward them that are not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ.
10 He salutes them, and wishes them all prosperity.

give. Le 19:13 25:39-43 De 15:12-15 24:14,15 Ne 5:5-13 Job 24:11,12 Job 31:13-15 Isa 58:3,5-9 Jer 34:9-17 Mal 3:5 Jas 2:13 5:4

ye. Ec 5:8 Mt 23:8,9 24:48-51 Lu 16:1-13 19:15 Eph 6:8,9 *etc: Re 17:14 19:16

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Continue. 12 1:9 1Sa 12:23 Job 15:4 27:8-10 Ps 55:16,17 109:4

See on Lu 18:1 Ro 12:12 Eph 6:18 Php 4:6 1Th 5:17,18

watch. Mt 26:41 Mr 13:33 Lu 21:36 1Pe 4:7

thanksgiving. See on ch. 2:7 3:15,17

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:

praying. Ro 15:30-32 Eph 6:19 Php 1:19 1Th 5:25 Phm 1:22 Heb 13:18,19

that. 1Co 16:9 2Co 2:12 2Th 3:1,2 Re 3:7,8

a door. The term door is used metaphorically for an entrance to any business, or occasion or opportunity of doing any thing; and consequently 'a door of utterance' is an opportunity of preaching the gospel successfully. See the parallel texts.

the mystery. See on ch. 1:26 2:2,3 Mt 13:11 1Co 4:1 Eph 6:19

for. Eph 3:1 4:1 6:20 Php 1:7,13,14 2Ti 1:16 2:9

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

I may. Mt 10:26,27 Ac 4:29 2Co 3:12 4:1-4

as. 6 Ac 5:29 1Co 2:4,5 2Co 2:14-17 Eph 6:20

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Walk. 3:16 Ps 90:12 Mt 10:16 Ro 16:19 1Co 14:19-25 Eph 5:15-17 Jas 1:5 3:13,17

them. 1Co 5:12,13 1Th 4:12 1Ti 3:7 1Pe 3:1

redeeming. See on Eph 5:16

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

your. 3:16 De 6:6,7 11:19 1Ch 16:24 Ps 37:30,31 40:9,10 45:2 66:16 Ps 71:15-18,23,24 78:3,4 105:2 119:13,46 Pr 10:21 15:4,7 Pr 16:21-24 22:17,18 25:11,12 Ec 10:12 Mal 3:16-18 Mt 12:34,35 Lu 4:22 Eph 4:29

seasoned. Le 2:13 2Ki 2:20-22 Mt 5:13 Mr 9:50

how. Pr 26:4,5 Lu 20:20-40 1Pe 3:15

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

my. Eph 6:21-23

Tychicus. Ac 20:4 2Ti 4:12 Tit 3:12

a beloved. 9,12

See on Eph 6:21 Php 2:25

a faithful. 1Co 4:1-4

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

I have. 1Co 4:17 2Co 12:18 Eph 6:22 Php 2:28 1Th 3:5

and comfort. 2:2 Isa 40:1 61:2,3 2Co 1:4 2:7 1Th 2:11 3:2 4:18 5:11,14 2Th 2:17

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

Onesimus. 7 Phm 1:10-19

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Aristarchus. Ac 19:29 20:4 27:2 Phm 1:24

saluteth. See on Ro 16:21-23

and Marcus. Ac 12:12 13:5,13 15:37-39 2Ti 4:11 1Pe 5:13

receive. Ro 16:2 2Jo 1:8,9

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.

who. Ac 10:45 11:2 Ro 4:12 Ga 2:7,8 Eph 2:11 Tit 1:10

fellow-workers. 7 1Co 3:5-9 2Co 6:1 Php 4:3 1Th 3:2 Phm 1:1,24

a comfort. 2Co 7:6,7 1Th 3:7

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.

Epaphras. 1:7 Phm 1:23

a servant. Joh 12:26 Ga 1:10 Jas 1:1 2Pe 1:1

always. See on ver. 2 Lu 22:44 Ga 4:19 Heb 5:7 Jas 5:16

labouring. or, striving. 2:1-23

that. 1 Ro 15:30

See on ch. 1:9,22,28 Mt 5:48 1Co 2:6 14:20 *Gr: 2Co 13:11 Php 3:12-15 1Th 5:23 Heb 5:14 *Gr: Heb 6:1 Jude 1:24

complete. or, filled. Ro 15:14

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

I bear. Ro 10:2 2Co 8:3

Laodicea. Laodicea and Hierapolis were both cities of Phrygia in Asia Minor, between which, and equidistant from each, was situated Colosse. Laodicea was seated near the Lycus, about 63 miles east of Ephesus; and became one of the largest and richest towns in Phrygia, vying in power with the maritime cities. It is now called Eski-hissar, the old castle; and besides the whole surface within the city's wall being strewed with pedestals and fragments, the ruins of an amphitheatre, a magnificent odeum, and other public buildings, attest its former splendour and magnificence. But, when visited by Dr. Chandler, all was silence and solitude; and a fox, first discovered by his ears peeping over a brow, was the only inhabitant of Laodicea. Hierapolis, now Pambouk-Kaiesi, was situated, according to the Itinerary, six miles N. of Laodicea; and its ruins are now about a mile and a half in circumference.

15,16 2:1 Re 1:11 3:14-18

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

Luke. 2Ti 4:11 Phm 1:24

Demas. 2Ti 4:10 Phm 1:24

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

Laodicea. See on ver. 13

the church. Ro 16:5 1Co 16:9 Phm 1:2

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

1Th 5:27

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

Archippus. Phm 1:2

Take. Le 10:3 Nu 18:5 2Ch 29:11 Eze 44:23,24 Ac 20:28 1Ti 4:16 1Ti 6:11-14,20 2Ti 4:1-5

the ministry. Ac 1:17 14:23 1Co 4:1,2 Eph 4:11 1Ti 4:6,14 2Ti 1:6 2:2

fulfil. 2Ti 4:5

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

by. 1Co 16:21 2Th 3:17

Remember. 2Ti 1:8 Heb 13:3

Grace. See on Ro 16:20,24 2Co 13:14 1Ti 6:21 2Ti 4:22 Heb 13:25

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

Colosse was a large and populous city of Phrygia Pacatiana, in Asia Minor, seated on an eminence to the south of the river Meander. It is supposed to have occupied a site now covered with ruins, near the village of Konous or Khonas, and about twenty miles N.W. of Degnizlu. By whom, or at what time, the church at Colosse was founded is wholly uncertain; but it would appear from the apostle's declaration, ch. ii. 1, that he was not the honoured instrument. It appears from the tenor of this epistle to have been, upon the whole, in a very flourishing state; but some difficulties having arisen among them, they sent Epaphras to Rome, where the apostle was now imprisoned, (ch. 4:3) to acquaint him with the state of their affairs. It is remarkable for a peculiar pathos and ardour, which is generally ascribed to the extraordinary divine consolations enjoyed by the apostle during his sufferings for the sake of Christ. Whoever, says Michaelis, would understand the Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, must read them together. The one is in most places a commentary on the other; the meaning of single passages in one epistle, which, if considered alone, might be variously interpreted, being determined by the parallel passages in the other epistle.