Colossians 4

4:6When we tell others about Christ, it is important always to be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense the message makes, we lose our effectiveness if we are not “Courteous. Just as we like to be respected, we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say. “4:7 Tychicus was one of Paul’s personal representatives and probably the bearer of the letters to the Colossians and . Ephesians (see also Ephesians 6:21, 22). He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection for the church (Acts 20:4).

4:10Aristarchus was a Thessalonian who accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. He was with Paul in the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He and Tychicus were with Paul in Greece (Acts 20:4). Aristarchus went to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:2), Mark started out with Paul and Barnabas on their first Missionary journey (Acts 12:25), but he left in the middle of the trip for unknown reasons (Acts 13:13). Barnabas and Mark Were relatives, and when Paul refused to take Mark on another journey, Barnabas and Mark journeyed together to preach the Good News (Acts 15:37-41). Mark also worked with Peter (Acts 12:12, 13; 1 Peter 5:13). Later, Mark and Paul were reconciled {Philemon 1:24). Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark. His Profile is in Acts 13, p. 1847.

4:12Epaphras founded the Colossian church (see the note on 1:7), and his report to Paul in Rome caused Paul to write this letter. Epaphras was a hero of the Colossian church, one of the believers who helped keep the church together despite growing troubles. His earnest prayers for the believers show his deep love and concern for them.

4:13Laodicea was located a few miles northwest of Colosse; Hierapolis was about five miles north of Laodicea. See the note on 2:1 for more about Laodicea.

4:14Luke spent much time with Paul, not only accompanying him on most of his third missionary journey but sitting with him in the prison at Rome. Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. His Profile is in Acts 17, p. 1865. Demas was faithful for a while, but then he deserted Paul because he loved “the things of this life” (2 Timothy 4:10).

4:15The early Christians often met in homes. Church buildings were not common until the third century.

4:16Some suggest that the letter from Laodicea may be the book of Ephesians, because the letter to the Ephesians was circulated to all the churches in Asia Minor. It is also possible that there was a special letter to the Laodiceans, of which we have no record today. Paul wrote several letters that have been lost (see, for example, 2 Corinthians 2:3 and note).

4:17Paul's letter to Philemon is aiso addressed to Archippus (Philemon 1:2). Paul called him a “fellow soldier.” He may have been a Roman soldier who had become a member of the Colossian church, or he may have been Philemon’s son.

4:17Paul encouraged Archippus to make sure that he carried out the ministry he had received in the LORD. There are many ways for us to leave our ministries unfinisned. We can easily get sidetracked morally, we can become exhausted and stop, we can get mad and quit, or we can let it slide and leave it up to others. We should see to it that we finish God’s assignments, completing the work we have received.

4:18Paul usually dictated his letters to a secretary and then often ended with a short note in his own handwriting (see also 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11). This assured the recipients that false teachers were not writing letters in Paul’s name.!t also gave the letters a personal touch.

4:18To understand the letter to the Colossians, we need to know that the church was facing pressure from a heresy that promised deeper spiritual life through secret knowledge (an early form of Gnosticism). The false teachers were destroying faith in Christ by undermining Christ’s humanity and divinity. Paul makes it clear in Colossians that Christ alone is the source of our spiritual life, the head of the body of believers. Christ is LORD of both the physical and spiritual worlds. The path to deeper spiritual life is not through religious duties, special knowledge, or secrets; it is only through a clear connection with the LORD Jesus Christ. We must never let anything come between us and our Savior.

5:21-6:9for similar instructions.

4:22In order to answer the accusation that Jesus was only a spirit and not a true human being, Paul explained that Jesus’ physical body actually died. Jesus suffered death fully as a human so that we could be assured that he died in our place. Jesus faced death as God so we can be assured that his sacrifice was complete and that he truly removed our sin.