4 That G2443 I may make G5319 it G846 manifest, G5319 as G5613 I G3165 ought G1163 to speak. G2980
Therefore seeing G1223 G5124 we have G2192 this G5026 ministry, G1248 as G2531 we have received mercy, G1653 we faint G1573 not; G3756 But G235 have renounced G550 the hidden things G2927 of dishonesty, G152 not G3361 walking G4043 in G1722 craftiness, G3834 nor G3366 handling G1389 the word G3056 of God G2316 deceitfully; G1389 but G235 by manifestation G5321 of the truth G225 commending G4921 ourselves G1438 to G4314 every G3956 man's G444 conscience G4893 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316 But G1161 if G1499 our G2257 gospel G2098 be G2076 hid, G2572 it is G2076 hid G2572 to G1722 them that are lost: G622 In G1722 whom G3739 the god G2316 of this G5127 world G165 hath blinded G5186 the minds G3540 of them which believe not, G571 lest G1519 G3361 the light G5462 of the glorious G1391 gospel G2098 of Christ, G5547 who G3739 is G2076 the image G1504 of God, G2316 should shine G826 unto them. G846
For G5228 which G3739 I am an ambassador G4243 in G1722 bonds: G254 that G2443 therein G1722 G846 I may speak boldly, G3955 as G5613 I G3165 ought G1163 to speak. G2980
Fear G5399 them G846 not G3361 therefore: G3767 for G1063 there is G2076 nothing G3762 covered, G2572 that G3739 shall G601 not G3756 be revealed; G601 and G2532 hid, G2927 that G3739 shall G1097 not G3756 be known. G1097 What G3739 I tell G3004 you G5213 in G1722 darkness, G4653 that speak ye G2036 in G1722 light: G5457 and G2532 what G3739 ye hear G191 in G1519 the ear, G3775 that preach ye G2784 upon G1909 the housetops. G1430
And G2532 now, G3569 Lord, G2962 behold G1896 G1909 their G846 threatenings: G547 and G2532 grant unto G1325 thy G4675 servants, G1401 that with G3326 all G3956 boldness G3954 they may speak G2980 thy G4675 word, G3056
Then G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 the other apostles G652 answered G611 and said, G2036 We ought G1163 to obey G3980 God G2316 rather G3123 than G2228 men. G444
And G2532 my G3450 speech G3056 and G2532 my G3450 preaching G2782 was not G3756 with G1722 enticing G3981 words G3056 of man's G442 wisdom, G4678 but G235 in G1722 demonstration G585 of the Spirit G4151 and G2532 of power: G1411 That G2443 your G5216 faith G4102 should G5600 not G3361 stand G5600 in G1722 the wisdom G4678 of men, G444 but G235 in G1722 the power G1411 of God. G2316
Now G1161 thanks G5485 be unto God, G2316 which always G3842 causeth G2358 us G2248 to triumph G2358 in G1722 Christ, G5547 and G2532 maketh manifest G5319 the savour G3744 of his G846 knowledge G1108 by G1223 us G2257 in G1722 every G3956 place. G5117 For G3754 we are G2070 unto God G2316 a sweet savour G2175 of Christ, G5547 in G1722 them that are saved, G4982 and G2532 in G1722 them that perish: G622 To G3739 the one G3303 we are the savour G3744 of death G2288 unto G1519 death; G2288 and G1161 to the other G3739 the savour G3744 of life G2222 unto G1519 life. G2222 And G2532 who G5101 is sufficient G2425 for G4314 these things? G5023 For G1063 we are G2070 not G3756 as G5613 many, G4183 which corrupt G2585 the word G3056 of God: G2316 but G235 as G5613 of G1537 sincerity, G1505 but G235 as G5613 of G1537 God, G2316 in the sight G2714 of God G2316 speak we G2980 in G1722 Christ. G5547
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.