Colossians 4:2-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 4:18-25

Let us look briefly at each of these three spheres of human relationships. (i) The wife is to be submissive to her husband; but the husband is to love his wife and to treat her with all kindness. The practical effect of the marriage laws and customs of ancient times was that the husband became an unquestioned dictator and the wife little more than a servant to bring up his children and to minister to his needs. The fundamental effect of this Christian teaching is that marriage becomes a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 4:18-25

(iii) Paul then turns to the greatest problem of all--the relationship between slave and master. It will be noted that this section is far longer than the other two; and its length may well be due to long talks which Paul had with the runaway slave, Onesimus, whom later he was to send back to his master Philemon. Paul says things which must have amazed both sides. He insists that the slave must be a conscientious workman. He is in effect saying that his Christianity must make him a better... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer ,.... This is not said particularly to masters, as in the foregoing verse, but to all the members of the church in general; for the apostle having taken notice of some special duties relating to persons in different stations of life, returns to such as were common to them all; as this of prayer to God is, for such prayer is intended; for though the object is not expressed here, he is in the following verse, and the Mediator Christ is supposed, and also the Holy Spirit,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:3

Withal, praying also for us ,.... The persons to be prayed for are next directed to; and these are not only themselves, though their concern is very near and great, but others also, all the saints and people of God, yea, all men, and in particular the ministers of the Gospel. The apostle desires they would pray for him, and his fellow ministers, and which he says not in dissimulation, under a guise of humility, but in true humility and lowliness of mind; being sensible of the greatness of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:4

That I may make it manifest ,.... It being a mystery, a secret, which was hid in God from everlasting, and, during the legal dispensation, was wrapped up in types, and shadows, and sacrifices, and is still hidden unto the natural man. Wherefore the apostle was desirous of making it manifest in a ministerial way; for God only, by his Spirit, makes it manifest in a spiritual, experimental, and saving way. As , says he, I ought to speak . The Arabic version adds, "concerning it", the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:5

Walk in wisdom ,.... Or wisely, circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise men; See Gill on Ephesians 5:15 . Towards them that are without ; so the Jews used to call the Gentiles, all that were out of their own land, that were not of their nation or religion, who were aliens from them, and strangers to their privileges; and sometimes the unbelieving. Jews bear the same character, see Mark 4:11 . Here it may design such who were not members of this church; so the distinction of those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:6

Let your speech be always with grace ,.... "In grace, or concerning grace": let grace be the subject matter of your speech and conversation. When saints meet together they should converse with each other about the work of grace upon their souls, how it was begun, and how it has been carried on, and in what case it now is; they should talk of the great things and wonders of grace, which God has done for them, which would be both comfortable and edifying to them, and make for the glory of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:7

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you ,.... This Tychicus was an Asian by birth; see Acts 20:4 . His name signifies "fortunate", and is the same with "Fortunatus" in Latin, which name is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:17 whether he is the same person may be inquired. It is said that this Tychicus was one of the seventy disciples, and was afterwards bishop of Chalcedon. However, he was employed by the apostle as a messenger to Colosse, as he also was to Ephesus, see Ephesians 6:21 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:8

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose ,.... That is, to relate to them his affairs both temporal and spiritual; and also, that he might know your estate . The Arabic version renders it, "that I may know your estate" by him when he returned again; as whether they continued steadfast in the Gospel, and observed the order, ordinances, and discipline of it; how it prospered, and was succeeded among them, to their comfort and edification, and to the conversion of others; and what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:9

With Onesimus ,.... Who had been Philemon's servant, ran away from him, and was met with and converted by the Apostle Paul, of whom he says many things in his epistle to his master. According to the Apostolic Constitutions, he was afterwards bishop of Beyrhoea; and some say he suffered martyrdom under Domitian; a servant of this name is mentioned by Suetonius F9 ln Vit. Galbae, c. 13. , Ignatius F11 Ep. ad Ephes. p. 17. & ad Antioch. ascript. p. 89. speaks of one Onesimus as... read more

Group of Brands