Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

a. Continue earnestly in prayer: Prayer was the secret to the prospering Colossian church (Colossians 1:3-8). It would only continue to prosper through vigilance in prayer.

b. Being vigilant in it with thanksgiving: We are to be vigilant in prayer, but always praying with thanksgiving for the great things God has done.

c. Meanwhile praying also for us: Paul seems to say, "As long as we are on the subject of prayer, please pray for us!" But Paul didn't ask for prayer for personal needs, but that God would open to us a door for the word.

d. As I ought to speak: Even though Paul was in chains for his faithfulness to the gospel, he knew that he ought to speak it in a way that would make it manifest (clearly evident). Paul wanted prayer that he would continue to make the gospel clear and evident, even if it meant more chains.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

a. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside: The Christian life isn't only lived in the prayer closet. There also must be "shoe-leather Christianity," which lives wisely toward those who are outside. How we speak has a lot to do with this, so we must let our speech always be with grace.

i. If only Christians could speak with grace as well as they seem to speak with gossip!

b. That you may know how you ought to answer each one: This assumes that these Christians seek these answers in God's Word, and they work at knowing how to communicate those answers to those who are outside.

B. Personal notes concluding the letter.

Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

a. Tychicus, a beloved brother: Apparently, the Colossian Christians didn't know who Tychicus was. But he would carry this letter to them (will tell you all the news about me).

i. It seems that Epaphras, who brought the news from Colosse to Paul in Rome (Colossians 1:7), would not return to Colosse soon, so Paul sent Tychicus.

b. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother: Onesimus was a slave owned by a believer in Colosse, but he ran away and came into contact with Paul in Rome. There, Onesimus became a Christian and a dedicated helper to Paul. His story is continued in Paul's letter to Philemon.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

a. Aristarchus . . . Mark . . . Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers . . . who are of the circumcision: As Paul's ministry continued, it became more focused towards Gentiles, because many Jewish people came to reject both Paul and his message.

i. Paul was in a Roman jail because of a Jewish riot over the mere mention of God's offer of grace to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22).

b. They have proved to be a comfort to me: At that time, Paul had only three fellow workers with a Jewish heritage. But these three did a great work, they proved to be a comfort to Paul.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

a. Always laboring fervently for you in prayers: Prayer is hard work, and Epaphras worked hard at it, especially knowing the danger of the false teaching in Colosse. So, Epaphras prayed that they Colossian Christians would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. That's a great prayer to pray for anyone.

b. He has a great zeal for you: Epaphras prayed well because he cared well. If he lagged in zeal, he certainly would have lagged in prayer.

Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

a. Luke the beloved physician: This is how we know that Luke, the human author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, was a physician. We also see that his works are written with a more scientific, analytical mindset (Luke 1:1-4) and have much detail that a physician would be interested in (Luke 4:38, 5:12-15, and 8:43).

b. Perhaps Luke was in Rome to deliver a document he recently finished - the Gospel of Like and the Book of Acts, which probably were a "friend of the court" brief, explaining to the Romans why Paul stood before Caesar's court.

Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

a. Laodicea (later mentioned in the scathing rebuke of Revelation 3:14-22) was a neighboring city of Colosse, along with Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13).

b. The church that is in his house: Having no buildings of their own, the early church met as "house churches." Because few houses were large, there were usually several "house churches" in a city, with a "pastor" over each one.

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

a. Now when this epistle is read among you: When Paul and other apostles wrote letters to churches, they simply read them publicly. It was a way for the apostle to teach that church even when he could not personally be there.

b. See that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans: It was the general practice to distribute all apostolic letters among the churches, especially those close to each other.

i. This helps us to understand how and why the letters would have been copied almost immediately, and how slight mistakes in copying the manuscripts could come in at an early date.

c. And that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea: Apparently, Paul wrote a letter to the Laodiceans that we do not have. We should not assume from this that our treasure of inspiration in incomplete. The Holy Spirit has chosen to preserve those letters that are inspired for the church in a universal sense. Paul was not inspired in this way every time he set pen to paper.

And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."

a. Take heed to the ministry: This is a good word to every one of us. But it is touching to think that this man Archippus must have been at a point of special need, because he needed this word of encouragement from Paul. It also shows Paul's tender concern for this individual.

This salutation by my own hand; Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

a. This salutation by my own hand: As was the custom in that day, Paul generally dictated his letters, and personally signed a postscript with his own hand.

b. Remember my chains: There is much emotion, sorrow, and strength in this simple phrase. Paul not only knew the confinement and loneliness of the prisoner; he also had the uncertainty of not knowing if his case before Caesar's court would end with his execution.

c. Grace be with you: Paul's conclusion is the only one possible for the apostle of grace, confronting a heresy emphasizing elaborate hidden mysteries and righteousness through works. We can only go forward safely in the Christian life if grace is with us.