2 Continue G4342 in prayer, G4335 and watch G1127 in G1722 the same G846 with G1722 thanksgiving; G2169
Pray G4336 without ceasing. G89 In G1722 every thing G3956 give thanks: G2168 for G1063 this G5124 is the will G2307 of God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 concerning G1519 you. G5209
Be careful G3309 for nothing; G3367 but G235 in G1722 every thing G3956 by prayer G4335 and G2532 supplication G1162 with G3326 thanksgiving G2169 let G1107 your G5216 requests G155 be made known G1107 unto G4314 God. G2316
Praying G4336 always G1722 G2540 G3956 with G1223 all G3956 prayer G4335 and G2532 supplication G1162 in G1722 the Spirit, G4151 and G2532 watching G69 thereunto G1519 G5124 G846 with G1722 all G3956 perseverance G4343 and G2532 supplication G1162 for G4012 all G3956 saints; G40
And G1161 he spake G3004 G2532 a parable G3850 unto them G846 G4314 to this end, that men ought G1163 always G3842 to pray, G4336 and G2532 not G3361 to faint; G1573
Watch ye G69 therefore, G3767 and pray G1189 always, G1722 G3956 G2540 that G2443 ye may be accounted worthy G2661 to escape G1628 all G3956 these things G5023 that shall G3195 come to pass, G1096 and G2532 to stand G2476 before G1715 the Son G5207 of man. G444
For G1223 this cause G5124 we G2249 also, G2532 since G575 the G3739 day G2250 we heard G191 it, do G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pray G4336 for G5228 you, G5216 and G2532 to desire G154 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with the knowledge G1922 of his G846 will G2307 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 spiritual G4152 understanding; G4907
Moreover as for me, H595 God forbid H2486 that I should sin H2398 against the LORD H3068 in ceasing H2308 to pray H6419 for you: H1157 but I will teach H3384 you the good H2896 and the right H3477 way: H1870
Epaphras, G1889 who is one of G1537 you, G5216 a servant G1401 of Christ, G5547 saluteth G782 you, G5209 always G3842 labouring fervently G75 for G5228 you G5216 in G1722 prayers, G4335 that G2443 ye may stand G2476 perfect G5046 and G2532 complete G4137 in G1722 all G3956 the will G2307 of God. G2316
Watch G1127 and G2532 pray, G4336 that G3363 ye enter G1525 not G3363 into G1519 temptation: G3986 the spirit G4151 indeed G3303 is willing, G4289 but G1161 the flesh G4561 is weak. G772
For my love H160 they are my adversaries: H7853 but I give myself unto prayer. H8605
For what is the hope H8615 of the hypocrite, H2611 though he hath gained, H1214 when God H433 taketh away H7953 his soul? H5315 Will God H410 hear H8085 his cry H6818 when trouble H6869 cometh H935 upon him? Will he delight H6026 himself in the Almighty? H7706 will he always H6256 call H7121 upon God? H433
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Colossians 4
Commentary on Colossians 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
Col 4:1
The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants, which might have been joined to the foregoing chapter, and is a part of that discourse. Here observe,
Col 4:2-4
If this be considered as connected with the foregoing verse, then we may observe that it is part of the duty which masters owe their servants to pray with them, and to pray daily with them, or continue in prayer. They must not only do justly and kindly by them, but act a Christian and religious part, and be concerned for their souls as well as their bodies: "As parts of your charge, and under your influence, be concerned for the blessing of God upon them, as well as the success of your affairs in their hands.' And this is the duty of every one-to continue in prayer. "Keep up your constant times of prayer, without being diverted from it by other business; keep your hearts close to the duty, without wandering or deadness, and even to the end of it: Watching the same.' Christians should lay hold of all opportunities for prayer, and choose the fittest seasons, which are least liable to disturbance from other things, and keep their minds lively in the duty, and in suitable frames.-With thanksgiving, or solemn acknowledgment of the mercies received. Thanksgiving must have a part in every prayer.-Withal praying also for us, v. 3. The people must pray particularly for their ministers, and bear them upon their hearts at all times at the throne of grace. As if he had said, "Do not forget us, whenever you pray for yourselves,' Eph. 6:19; 1 Th. 5:25; Heb. 13:18. That God would open to us a door of utterance, that is, either afford opportunity to preach the gospel (so he says, a great door and effectual is opened to me, 1 Co. 16:9), or else give me ability and courage, and enable me with freedom and faithfulness; so Eph. 6:19, And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that is, either the deepest doctrines of the gospel with plainness, of which Christ is the principal subject (he calls it the mystery of the gospel, Eph. 6:19), or else he means the preaching of the gospel to the Gentile world, which he calls the mystery hidden from ages (ch. 1:26) and the mystery of Christ, Eph. 3:4. For this he was now in bonds. He was a prisoner at Rome, by the violent opposition of the malicious Jews. He would have them pray for him, that he might not be discouraged in his work, nor driven from it by his sufferings: "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak, v. 4. That I may make this mystery known to those who have not heard of it, and make it plain to their understanding, in such a manner as I ought to do.' He had been particular in telling them what he prayed for on their behalf, ch. 1. Here he tells them particularly what he would have them pray for on his behalf. Paul knew as well as any man how to speak; and yet he begged their prayers for him, that he might be taught to speak. The best and most eminent Christians need the prayers of meaner Christians, and are not above asking them. The chief speakers need prayer, that God would give them a door of utterance, and that they may speak as they ought to speak.
Col 4:5-6
The apostle exhorts them further to a prudent and decent conduct towards all those with whom they conversed, towards the heathen world, or those out of the Christian church among whom they lived (v. 5): Walk in wisdom towards those who are without. Be careful, in all your converse with them, to get no hurt by them, or contract any of their customs; for evil communications corrupt good manners; and to do not hurt to them, or increase their prejudices against religion, and give them an occasion of dislike. Yea, do them all the good you can, and by all the fittest means and in the proper seasons recommend religion to them.-Redeeming the time; that is, either "improving every opportunity of doing them good, and making the best use of your time in proper duty' (diligence in redeeming time very much recommends religion to the good opinion of others), or else "walking cautiously and with circumspections, to give them no advantage against you, nor expose yourselves to their malice and ill-will,' Eph. 5:15, 16. Walk circumspectly, redeeming the time, because the days are evil, that is, dangerous, or times of trouble and suffering. And towards others, or those who are within as well as those who are without, "Let your speech be always with grace, v. 6. Let all your discourse be as becomes Christians, suitable to your profession-savoury, discreet, seasonable.' Though it be not always of grace, it must be always with grace; and, though the matter of our discourse be that which is common, yet there must be an air of piety upon it and it must be in a Christian manner seasoned with salt. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, makes it savoury, and keeps it from corrupting. That you may know how to answer every man. One answer is proper for one man, and another for another man Prov. 26:4, 5. We have need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to give proper answers to every man, particularly in answering the questions and objections of adversaries against our religion, giving the reasons of our faith, and showing the unreasonableness of their exceptions and cavils to the best advantage for our cause and least prejudice to ourselves. Be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, 1 Pt. 3:15.
Col 4:7-18
In the close of this epistle the apostle does several of his friends the honour to leave their names upon record, with some testimony of his respect, which will be spoken of wherever the gospel comes, and last to the end of the world.