1The duty of masters toward their servants. 2A general exhortation to perseverance in prayer, 5discreet conduct, 6and well-ordered speech. 7The apostle commendeth Tychicus and Onesimus, by whom he sent this epistle: 10and concludeth with various salutations, and a blessing.
1MASTERS,a give unto your servants that which is 1just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
a Eph. 6:9.
1 Gr. the right and the equality. By the first word may suitably be understood what the masters, according to the laws of the land, ought to do to their servants; by the other, what equity and christian compassion requires over and above.
22Continueb in prayer, and 3watch in the same with thanksgiving;
2 Or, Hold on strongly; for, the Greek word signifies both, namely, to hold on in prayer with zeal and continuance. See Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18.
b Luke 18:1; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thes. 5:17.
3 That is, be careful and attentive, in order that not only the mouth, but also the heart and understanding be watchful in prayer. See Mark 13:33, etc.; Rev. 3:2, etc.
3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us 4a door of utterance, toc speak 5the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in 6bonds:
4 That is, afford us good opportunity and boldness, to be able to spread abroad the word of the Gospel, as 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor.2:12.
c Eph. 6:19; 2 Thes. 3:1.
5 That is, the Gospel, or the doctrine of Christ. Why the same is called a mystery, see Eph. 1:9 and Col. 2:2.
6 That is, imprisoned. See of the manner of this imprisonment in Acts 28:16.
4That I may make it manifest, as 7I ought to speak.
7 Namely, by virtue of my calling, Rom. 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:16.
5Walkd8in wisdom toward them that are 9without, 10redeeminge the time.
d Eph. 5:15.
8 Or, with wisdom, that is, wisely, prudently, that is, do not bring yourselves without necessity into any danger, and do not yield to their sins, idolatries, or false doctrines, but seek to win them upon all opportunities.
9 That is, are yet strangers of the faith, or the congregation of God, which is the house of God. See likewise 1 Cor. 5:12, 13.
10 Of this phrase see the annotation on Eph. 5:16.
e Eph. 5:16.
6Let yourf speech be alway with grace, seasoned 11with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer 12every man.
f Mark 9:50.
11 Gr. make savory, that is, so ordered to the acceptation of those with whom you associate, that in the meantime all filthy, corrupt and unedifying speeches be kept out of it, as meat is made savory by salt, and all corruption kept from it. See 1 Cor. 15:33; Eph. 4:29.
12 Namely, whether this is without or within the congregation; whether to give an account of your faith, 1 Peter 3:15, or to comfort or to exhort each other, 1 Thes. 5:11.
713All my state shall Tychicusg declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
13 Or, The things which concern me, namely, of my opportunity in this imprisonment, and what I do here.
g Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:12.
8Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know 14your estate, and 15comfort your hearts;
14 That is, the state in which is your congregation.
15 Namely, both with his gifts, and also with the description of the liberty which I have here to spread abroad the Gospel in my bonds, and the progress of the same. See Acts 28:30; Philip. 1:12.
9With Onesimus,h a faithful and beloved brother, who is one 16of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
h Philemon verse 10.
16 That is, not only of your city and country men, but also a minister of your congregation, as a similar phrase is likewise to be seen hereafter in verse 12.
1017Aristarchusi my fellowprisoner 18saluteth you, and 19Marcus,j20sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, 21receive him;)
17 This was a renowned disciple, born in Macedonia, a continual companion of Paul, who had also followed Paul in his bonds even unto Rome. See Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2.
i Acts 27:2.
18 To salute is properly to wish anyone peace, happiness and salvation. See Luke 10:5.
19 Who is also called, John, whose mother Mary was a very godly woman, in whose house were held many times the assemblies of the apostles and of the other believers, Acts 12:12, who indeed parted with Barnabas from Paul, Acts 15:38, but nevertheless remained constant in the ministry of the Gospel, and returned to Paul again, as appears here and 2 Tim. 4:11, although afterward he resorted himself unto Peter, 1 Peter 5:13, in whose company he wrote his Gospel, as some ancient teachers testify.
j Acts 15:37; 2 Tim. 4:11.
20 That is, nephew of Barnabas.
21 Namely, with all honor and friendship, which Paul adds to increase his respect in these congregations.
11And Jesus, which is called 22Justus, 23who are of the circumcision. 24These only are my fellowworkers 25unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
22 Of him, see Acts 18:7.
23 That is, from among the Jews.
24 Namely, from among the Jews; for, there were many more from the Greeks, as appears from this salutation itself, but of the Jews there were many which withstood Paul, Acts 28:24, etc.
25 That is, in the ministry of the Gospel, whereby the Kingdom of God, both of grace and glory promised by the prophets under the Messiah, is promoted. See Mat. 4:23; Mark 4:11.
12Epaphras,k who is one 26of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always 27labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand 28perfect and 29complete in all the will of God.
k Col. 1:7; Philemon verse 23.
26 As before, verse 9.
27 That is, striving with great zeal and continuance.
28 That is, perfectly instructed; this is contrasted to them, who were yet children or novices in doctrine, as 1 Cor. 2:6; 14:20; Philip. 3:12.
29 Gr. filled.
13For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in 30Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
30 These two famous cities were not situated far from them, as is noted in Col. 1:2.
1431Luke,l32the beloved physician, and 33Demas,m greet you.
31 This is the evangelist Luke, who wrote his Gospel by the Holy Spirit, and was a continual companion of Paul in his travels, even unto Rome, also in his imprisonment. See Acts 27:1; 28:14.
l 2 Tim. 4:11.
32 Namely, by calling or profession, as Matthew is called a publican even after his conversion and calling to the apostleship, Mat. 10:3.
33 This was indeed a fellow laborer of Paul in his imprisonment for a time, Philemon verse 24, but afterward left him shamefully, 2 Tim. 4:10.
m 2 Tim. 4:10.
15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church 34which is in his house.
34 This may be understood, either of the congregation which kept their assemblies in this man’s house, or, also of his household, which was, as a little congregation, in his house, and was kept in a very christian order by him, as is said of the house of Aquila and Priscilla, Rom. 16:5 and 1 Cor. 16:19.
16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also 35in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle 36from Laodicea.
35 He would not only want this because this was a famous congregation in that region, but also because some sought to bring in the same errors there also, for which Paul warned the Colossians in the first two chapters of this epistle.
36 The apostle does not speak here of an epistle which he would have written to the Laodiceans, as some have thought, and have feigned an epistle, which is found in some Latin and also in some Dutch Testaments, but always held for apocryphal; but of an epistle which was written from Laodicea, whereby some understand the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy, because it is said in the subscription that the same may have been written from Laodicea, but by a notable mistake of those who set these subscriptions to the Epistles of Paul, seeing it appears in Col. 2:1 that the congregation of Colosse and Laodicea had never seen the face of Paul; but it is most probable that Paul speaks of an epistle which he had received from Laodicea, either from the congregation itself, or from some apostolic men there, in which epistle a further declaration was made of these errors, or of the authors of them, which might also serve for the Colossians further warning or information, when the same would be compared with this epistle of Paul.
17And say to 37Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received 38in the Lord, that thou 39fulfill it.
37 He seems to have been a colleague to Epaphras in this congregation, who after the departure of Epaphras was grown remiss in his zeal and ministry, wherefore the apostle will have made this admonition to him.
38 That is, through the Lord, or, from Him; for, it is even the Lord Himself Who sends forth laborers into His harvest, although for the most part they are called by the congregations. See Mat. 9:38; Acts 20:28.
39 That is, fully or duly administer, not being content with the title only, but faithfully executing the work thereof. See the like in 2 Tim. 4:5.
18Then salutation 40by the hand of me, Paul. Remembero my bonds. 41Grace be with you. 42Amen.
n 2 Thes. 3:17.
40 Hereby he understands the words of the following salutation of grace, which he used to write under all the epistles with his own hand, although he often used the hands of others in the writing out of the epistles, as he testifies himself, 2 Thes. 3:17. See further the annotation on 1 Cor. 16:21.
o Heb. 13:3.
41 That is, the special favor of God in Christ towards us, with all the benefits which flow from it.
42 See of this word the annotations at Mat. 6 on verse 13 and 28 on verse 20.