Open Doors and Faithful Friends: Colossians 4:2-18

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Paul's letter was ending. The theology had been laid down. The ethics had been applied. Now the practical instructions.

Devote yourselves to prayer. Proskartereo—persist, continue steadfastly, keep at it. Prayer wasn't occasional but devoted.

Being watchful. Gregoreo—stay awake, be alert. Prayer required attention. Thankful. Always thanksgiving. Prayer and gratitude intertwined.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Pray for us. Paul needed their prayers. Even apostles needed intercession.

Open a door. The metaphor of opportunity. For our message—the gospel. The mystery of Christ—the same mystery he had expounded.

For which I am in chains. The chains were real. The door needed to open anyway.

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Clarity. Paul wanted to speak plainly, understandably. As I should. The obligation to proclaim well.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Wisdom toward outsiders. The Colossians lived among pagans. Their conduct was watched. Evaluated.

Make the most of every opportunity. Exagorazo—redeem the time, buy up the opportunity. Time was precious. Chances were limited. Use them well.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Conversation full of grace. Speech characterized by kindness, generosity, the favor of God.

Seasoned with salt. Flavorful. Interesting. Not bland but engaging. Preserving. Salt did what salt does.

So that you may know how to answer everyone. Apologetics at the neighborhood level. Knowing what to say when asked.

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.

The letter carrier would fill in the gaps. Tychicus—trusted messenger.

He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

Paul's commendation. Dear brother—family. Faithful minister—diakonos. Fellow servant—syndoulos. All the titles of honor.

I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

Two purposes. Information and encouragement. They would learn about Paul. Their hearts would be strengthened.

He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Onesimus. The name would startle them. Onesimus—the runaway slave from Colossae. Now described as our faithful and dear brother. One of you. Returning home transformed.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.

Aristarchus—imprisoned with Paul. Greetings from the prison cell.

Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. John Mark. The one who had deserted on the first journey. The one who had caused Paul and Barnabas to split. Now reconciled. Now sending greetings.

You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.

Welcome him. The past was past. Mark was restored. The Colossians should receive him.

Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.

Jesus—Justus. A common name then. These three—Aristarchus, Mark, Justus—were the only Jewish co-workers. The others were Gentiles. They have proved a comfort. Paregoria—solace in difficulty.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Epaphras. The one who planted the Colossian church. One of you—their own. A servant of Christ Jesus.

Wrestling in prayer. Agonizomai—the same word for striving, contending. Prayer as combat. Prayer as exertion. For you. His people. His spiritual children.

That you may stand firm. Histemi—hold your ground. In all the will of God. Complete obedience. Mature. Teleios. Fully assured. Pleroforeo—fully convinced.

I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Paul's testimony. Working hard. Polys ponos—much labor. For you—Colossae. For Laodicea and Hierapolis—the neighboring cities. The Lycus Valley churches. Epaphras's burden.

Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Luke. The beloved physician. Historian of Acts. With Paul to the end.

Demas. Sending greetings now. But Paul would later write: "Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me." The greetings concealed a future heartbreak.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Laodicea. The sister church. Nympha—a woman hosting a house church. Her house was the gathering place.

After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

The letter exchange. Colossians read in Laodicea. The Laodicean letter read in Colossae. Circular letters. Shared wisdom.

Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord."

Archippus. A personal charge. Complete the ministry. Finish what you started. Don't leave the work half done. You received it in the Lord—complete it in the Lord.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

The pen changed hands. Paul took it himself. His own handwriting. Authentication. Personal touch.

Remember my chains.

Three words. Remember my chains. Don't forget. The apostle was in prison. For Christ. For them. Remember.

Grace be with you.

The benediction. Grace. Charis. The favor of God. Be with you. Present. Active. Sustaining.

Paul set down the pen. The letter was complete.

Tychicus would carry it. Onesimus would accompany him—the slave returning home as a brother.

The mystery of Christ, revealed.

The Colossian heresy, exposed.

The new life in Christ, described.

The household transformed.

The greetings extended.

The chains remembered.

Grace with them.

The letter would reach Colossae. And beyond. Two thousand years of readers. Still learning who Christ is.

Image of the invisible God.

Firstborn over all creation.

Head of the body.

All fullness dwelling.

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Still sufficient.

Still supreme.

Still enough.