Colossians Chapter 4 Verses 5-6

Col. 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” 

According to James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”  We need the wisdom that God giveth so that we can “walk.”  Walk refers to the way we live our lives.  We should live our lives according to the teachings of the scriptures.  Those that are outside the bounds of the Lord’s church often watch the way that the disciples live and form opinions based on what they see.  If our walk is evil then they will be turned off by our walk and discount what we say and teach.  If we walk uprightly then they are much more likely to listen to what we say and teach. 

Moreover, we are to redeem the time, i.e., spend our time wisely.  The more time we spend on foolishness and foolish things the less time we have for reading, studying, and meditating on the things of God and His word.  The less time we spend in God’s word leads to us spending less time applying the word of God to our lives and the less influence we will have on those that are without. 

“Let your speech be always with grace…” this would rule out being derogatory or abusive in our speech to others.  If our speech is always with grace we going to avoid to the extent we can negativity and argumentative speech.  Our speech should serve to build up and encourage others in the walk of faith. 

“Seasoned with salt…”  Salt on food is designed to give food a good and pleasant flavor.  Likewise, our speech should be seasoned to leave a good and pleasant taste to the hearers. 

“That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”  Peter wrote in 1 Pet.3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” One of the problems with nominal disciples is that when confronted with the questions of others they don’t know how to answer those questions.  Knowing how to answer the questions of others requires much reading and study and meditation on our part.   

Verses 7-9 

Col. 4:7 “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.” 

In this passage we are led to understand that there is a mutual desire both by the members of the church at Colosse and Paul to know the state of being of one another.  This is a common desire and bond that forms between ministers and those they serve.  It is born out of love for one another and the common bond of belief and walk of faith that they share.  To this end Paul sent Tychicus to declare to the brethren and sisters at Colosse his estate and to learn and communicate their estate to him. 

Paul refers to Tychicus as a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  Here we see the bonds that often form between gospel ministers.  I have been blessed to have some brethren in the ministry that I love greatly for Christ sake.  I also find them to be faithful ministers of the Lord to His people.  Moreover, I consider them to be fellow servants in the Lord. 

Next, we are introduced to Onesimus whom Paul declares to be “a faithful and beloved brother.  Also, Onesimus is a brother whom the church of Colosse is familiar with as he is one of them. 

Additionally, Paul said that together Tychicus and Onesimus would make known to the church at Colosse all things which are done at Rome.  There would, of course, be an interest in the church at Colosse to know about the furtherance of the gospel labors being made by the gospel ministers at Rome.   

Verses 10-18 

Col. 4:10 “Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.”   

This passage of scripture is a sending of greetings from Paul’s fellow servants at Rome to the church at Colosse.

Paul refers to Aristarchus as a fellow prisoner.  Paul was a prisoner of the Roman government at the time he wrote to Colosse, even though he had been given much liberty at that time.  Aristarchus apparently was a prisoner with Paul. 

Marcus, sisters son to Barnabus had previously been to Colosse and given commandments to them.  Apparently he was considering returning there and they were to receive him if he came. 

Jesus, which is called Justus, along with those previously mentioned are said to be of the circumcision (natural Jews) and are declared to be fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, all of whom had been a comfort to Paul. 

Epaphras is said to be a prayer warrior toward the church at Colosse as he prayed fervently that they may stand perfecct and complete in all the will of God.  Moreover, Paul declared that Epaphras had a great zeal for the members of the church at Colosse and for them at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis.   

Luke, the beloved physician, who wrote the books of Luke and Acts sent greetings to the members of the church at Colosse along with Demas who later departed from the faith. 

Paul asked the church at Colosse to send salutations to the church at Laodicea and to Nymphas and the church in his house.  This is one of three churches that met in someone’s house.  The other two are listed below: 

          1.  Rom. 16:3 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.”

          2.  Phil. 1:2 “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:” 

Paul through the church at Colosse admonishes Archippus to take heed to the ministry which he had received in the Lord and fulfill it.  It would appear from this that he had been neglecting the ministry.  This should serve as an admonishment of all the Lord’s gospel ministers to take heed to the ministry which we have received in the Lord and to fulfill it. 

Paul requests that his letter be read among the members and that the letter be read in the church of the Laodiceans and the the letter to the Laodiceans be read in Colosse. 

Paul closes this letter by once again referring to the grace of God which was the pattern in all of his letters.