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Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Verse 1. Masters should remember that they also have a Master to whom they must reckon, and from whom they must expect the same justice they measure out to others.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,
praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,
Verse 3. A door of speech; that is of free speech to preach the gospel. Witham.
that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Verse 5. Redeeming the time. This expression occurs also in the epistle to the Ephesians, and seems to insinuate to the faithful to be on their guard not to irritate the Gentiles, nor to provoke them to persecution. Remember, says he, the times are bad; conduct yourselves with prudence; gain time, procure peace, and remain in silence. This was written towards the end of the reign of Nero, as cruel a prince as ever lived. Calmet.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”),
Verse 10. The same as John and Mark mentioned in the Acts, 15:37, 39.
and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Verse 12. Epaphras. He was apostle and bishop of the Colossians, as has been observed. It was he who engaged Saint Paul to write to them, fearing lest they should give themselves up to the novelties of the false apostles, after having received the gospel from him in all its purity. Calmet.
For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house.
When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Verse 16. Read you that which is of the Laodiceans. [1] Some expound these words of an epistle which Saint Paul wrote to the Laodiceans, which is lost, for that now extant is no more than a collection of sentences out of Saint Paul. By the Greek text is rather signified a letter writ from Laodicea, and might be a letter sent from the Laodiceans to Saint Paul, which he had a mind the Colossians should read. Witham.—This opinion does not, however, seem well founded. Hence it is more probable, that Saint Paul wrote an epistle from Rome to the Laodiceans about the same time that he wrote to the Colossians, as he had them both equally at heart, and that he ordered that epistle to be read by the Colossians for their instruction; and, being neighbouring cities, they might communicate to each other what they had received from him: as one epistle might contain some matters not related in the other, and would be equally useful for their concern; and more particularly as they were equally disturbed by intruders and false teachers, against whom the apostle was anxious to warn them, lest they should be infected by their pernicious doctrine. Challoner.—It is the most common opinion, both amongst the ancients and moderns, that the epistle here alluded to was one written by the Laodiceans to Saint Paul, which he sent to Colossus with this, and not one which he himself had written to the Laodiceans. It is however now lost. This exposition agrees best with the Greek. Calmet.
Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
Verse 17. What Saint Paul here addresses to Archippus, gives us reason to presume that he was then bishop of the Colossians, having succeeded Epaphras, who was then prisoner at Rome with Saint Paul. V.
1 THESSALONIANS
THE FIRST
EPISTLE OF S. PAUL, THE APOSTLE,
TO THE THESSALONIANS
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.