Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
The last post in a study about Paul's epistles is always the most difficult; he bounces around so much, trying to get in the last few important things, send personal greetings, introduce the folks who are bringing the letter, etc. Colossians is no different.
Devote yourselves to prayer he says in 4:2. I had to stop there. I don't think I could say with any honesty that I devote myself to prayer. I do pray...mostly conversational prayers as I go about my day. But a shut-myself-in-the-war-room-and-pour-myself-on-the-throne-of-God? Um...not so much. But, to be honest, I'm not so sure that's really what Paul means. Neither am I sure that's not what he means. But he does continue, being watchful and thankful. So...maybe the prayer is 1) a response to the things going on around us, both in our personal lives and in the society/ culture/ world in which we live and 2) being mindful of the blessings we have and the work God is doing in and around us and giving thanks continually. Devote yourselves to a prayerful, thankful response to all that happens around you. Maybe? Even that is a challenge, to be honest. My very first response to a situation usually doesn't involve prayer. And that's a rather sad confession. If it were prayer...if my reflex action was to pray immediately...perhaps I wouldn't have so many bone-headed boo boos in my history.
While Paul is on the subject of prayer, he asks that the believers pray for him, also. Not that he would be released from prison, not that he would have his needs met, not that influential people would move on his behalf...but 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 that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Col. 4:3 - 4). Paul was asking prayer for the Gospel to spread through him. Period.
That's a challenge right there.
And I think Paul recognized that, because he then exhorts his readers to do the same thing:
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:5-6)
My friend, what if WE, as in the members of the body of Christ, considered every interaction with someone who, for whatever reason, is not part of the fellowship, as an opportunity to be an influence for the kingdom? Whether it's the grumpy clerk at Wal-Mart or the kid's inept volunteer soccer coach or the neighbor with the barking dog or the co-worker who delights in putting other people down or that Facebook friend who is so very vocal about their political leanings or...[fill in the blank from your own experience]. I don't necessarily think this means aggressive evangelism but it certainly means treating people as Jesus would treat people. After all, we are his representatives, right?
'Speech seasoned with grace' would never gossip or speak judgmentally or denigrate or curse or spread unfounded rumors or complain or patronize or...you get the picture. I've got a long way to grow there, too...
Then Paul introduces the guys who will be bringing his letter to the Colossians...Tychius (who is mentioned in Acts 20:4 as being one of the men who sometimes traveled with Paul; he is also mentioned in 2 Tim. 4:12 as being sent to Ephesus; Ephesians 6:21 is Paul's introduction of Tychius to the Ephesians; and Titus 3:12 mentions that Paul will possibly send him to fetch Titus) and Onesimus, a runaway slave who was returning to his master (read Paul's letter to Philemon for Onesimus' story). Paul describes Tychius as "a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord"; Onesimus is described as "our faithful and dear brother; who is one of you." These gentlemen will share further about what is happening with Paul in Rome (Col. 4:9).
The bulk of the rest of the chapter is Paul greeting the Colossians on behalf of the folks who are with him in Rome: Aristarchus (a 'fellow prisoner',whom we first meet in Acts 19:29 and 20:4 as one of Paul's companions; he may have been one of the other 'prisoners handed over to a centurion named Julius' for the voyage to Rome as he is also mentioned in Acts 27:2), Mark the cousin of Barnabas (the young man whose desire to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their second missionary journey caused such a sharp contention between them that they split up...see Acts 15:37 - 41; obviously, he and Paul had reconciled) and Jesus, who was called Justus. Those were the Jewish men with Paul; along with them were non-Jews Epaphras, who 'is always wrestling in prayer' for the Colossians (likely all the churches in Asia); Paul says that 'he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis'; Luke the doctor and Demas...all send their greetings to the church at Colosse.
Paul then instructs the church to read the letter, then send it on to Laodicea, so the church there may read it, and the Colossians are also to read the letter to the Laodiceans (which we do not have preserved, but it likely was very similar to what was written in Colossians and Ephesians, as those letters were written at the same time, along with the letter to Philemon, as evidenced by the names of the folks involved in delivering the letters and sending greetings).
Then Paul calls out one individual...Archippus...with instructions to "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." Archippus is only mentioned in one other verse...Philemon, verse 2, as a friend and co-worshiper of Philemon and 'our fellow soldier.' So we have no other information about what that work might be...but, for Paul to have singled him out, there must've been something significant that he had been given.
And, clearly, while Paul had never been to Colosse and did not know the majority of the folks who worshiped Jesus in that city, there were a few folks that he did know; the commonalities between Colossians and Philemon seem to indicate that Philemon lived in or near Colosse.
Finally, Paul himself takes the quill from whoever he was dictating to, which was probably Timothy, and writes a greeting in his own hand, to authenticate the letter. He did request them to 'remember my chains'...ie, pray for him while he is imprisoned.
Grace be with you.
And with you.
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