Colossians 4:2–18 Grace Be With You

Prayer: With expectant hearts and minds, we seek your truth, O God. In this study, help us to be attentive as we listen, careful as we speak, and awake to your wisdom. Open our hearts to your Scripture and give us the courage to change in light of what we read. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With your group, take turns reading the introduction and text and answering the questions in each section.

Introduction

What can we learn about the early church from a goodbye?

At the end of his letter to the Colossians, Paul offers some parting advice, reminds the church receiving his letter of his situation in prison, and sends greetings from and to his friends in the area.

Paul served several years in prison in Rome, accused by a group of Jews who opposed his preaching about Jesus. In this part of the letter, he references his “chains” two times; he was probably living in literal, physical chains.¹

The word “slave,” used multiple times in this section, lends insight into the power dynamics of the new reality in Christ. Paul calls two people “slaves” of Christ—and implies that he considers himself a slave of Christ, too. But one person in this section is a literal slave. We know that Onesimus is an enslaved person from the New Testament book of Philemon. Instead of referring to Onesimus as a slave, however, Paul calls him “faithful and dear brother” and reminds the Colossian church that Onesimus is “one of [them].”

What a reversal! Paul calls free men slaves, emphasizing both humility and a complete commitment to Christ; but the slave in station Paul calls “one of [us].”

Perhaps the most obvious insight we see in this part of the letter is that communities made the early church happen. From greeting a woman named Nympha and “the church that meets in her house,” to passing along greetings from a fellow-Christian imprisoned with Paul, we get the sense that groups of friends in community greeted each other by way of
this letter.

This study will go through the end of the book of Colossians.

Section 1

Colossians 4:2–6^{2 4:2} Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ^4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ^4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should. ^4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. ^4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

The point: The letter concludes here with parting advice. It describes and requests prayer, discusses how Colossians should act towards non-Christians, and pleas for the Colossians to be a people of gentle and wise talk.

Question 1: The section describes an attitude of prayer. What is it?

Question 2: The section makes two prayer requests. What are they?

Section 2

Colossians 4:7–9
^4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^4:8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. ^4:9 I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. 

The point: Paul describes the people who (it seems) bring the letter: one, an apparently free man whom Paul calls a “slave in the Lord,” and a slave whom Paul calls “faithful and dear brother.”

Question: Why do you think Paul would remind the Colossians that Onesimus is “one of [them]”?

Section 3

Colossians 4:10–11
^4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him). ^4:11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

The point: Paul sends greetings from several people; we can see from his mention of John Mark (about whom he and Barnabas had an earlier disagreement), that the two have been reconciled.

Question: Read Acts 15:36–40. In verse 10 above, the letter mentions instructions that are now lost. It also tells the Colossians what to do if they see John Mark. How are the Colossians supposed to treat him?

Section 4

Colossians 4:12–18
^4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ^4:13 For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. ^4:14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you. ^4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. ^4:16 And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well. ^4:17 And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”
^4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

The point: Paul sends a greeting from multiple friends, including a friend of his who “struggles” in prayer for the Colossians. He concludes simply: “remember my chains. Grace (favor) be with you.”

Question: The Scripture describes Epaphras as “struggling in prayer on [the Colossians’] behalf.” What is he praying for?

Read through the text again below.³

Section 1

Colossians 4:2–6
^4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. ^4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ^4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should. ^4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. ^4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Section 2

Colossians 4:7–9
^4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^4:8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. ^4:9 I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Section 3

Colossians 4:10–11
^4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him). ^4:11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Section 4

Colossians 4:12–18
^4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ^4:13 For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. ^4:14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you. ^4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. ^4:16 And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well. ^4:17 And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”
^4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Discussion and application questions

1. In the book of Philemon, we learn that Onesimus is not just a slave: he’s a runaway. Imagine that you are the slave Onesimus and you hear it read in every church that you are a “faithful and dear brother, who is one of [them].” How would you feel?
2. In verse 3, Paul asks the Colossians to pray for opportunities for him to talk to people about Jesus. How do you think praying for opportunities to talk about our Lord might change your perspective on sharing Christ?
3. John Mark was the reason Paul and Barnabas separated. But here, ­­this letter tells the Colossians to welcome John Mark. For someone influential like Paul, what does it mean for him to not just reconcile with John Mark, but also tell strangers to treat him well?
4. How do you think Paul’s chains impact the book? Why does the letter end with, “remember my chains”?

Conclusion:

Challenge: This week, try to maintain an attitude of prayerful alertness with thanksgiving. Pray that you would have integrity before people outside of the church and opportunities to talk about Christ.

Blessing: May you remember who you are with God as you think of his love for you and your community. May you go in God’s favor.

1. Clinton E. Arnold, “Colossians,” in Romans to Philemon, vol. 3 of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament. ed. Clinton E. Arnold; (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 398.[↩]
2. Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.  All rights reserved.[↩]
3. We find that rereading the text is very helpful—please don’t skip this part of the study![↩]