Final Instructions
Michael Hansen
Colossians / Colossians 4:2–18
Introduction
This morning we come to our final sermon from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Throughout this series I have noted that Paul’s desire for the young church at Colossae was for them to grow in Christian maturity.
Paul knew that temptations existed for the church to pursue maturity in ways that would take them backward rather than forward.
The main temptation was to turn to Jewish customs as a way toward maturity. This of course is a step backward because the Law of Moses and the history of Israel existed in order to bring God’s people to maturity in Christ. To have obtained Christ and then to turn back to the old ways is a regression, not a progression.
The second temptation Paul was concerned with was the temptation to yield to the powerful forces of pagan idolatry that characterized the past of many Colossians who were gentiles.
The way Paul combats both of these temptations was through presenting Christ as the goal of the Law and the Prophets and the victorious king of the nations who has disarmed the pagan idols of their power through his death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
In essence, Paul proclaims to the Colossians that the new age that God promised through his prophets would come at the end of history has started in the middle of history in the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave.
This means that Christians are to live their lives as citizens of the New Age and not as citizens of the age that is passing away.
Curiously enough, Paul describes life in the New Age is seemingly mundane terms. Living as a new human in the New Age of the Resurrection looks like organizing your household well and seeking to lead a life of love and service toward others.
Two weeks ago I preached on Paul’s household code that he delivered to the Colossians on how they ought to live in the home. This week I turn to how Paul directs the Colossians to live in the world. Beyond that, we will consider Paul’s final greetings to the Colossians.
The passage breaks down into two parts:
1. In vv. 2-6 Paul gives the Colossians instructions on how they ought to live in the world.
2. In vv. 7-18 Paul gives his final greetings to the Colossians.
New Life in the World (vv. 2-6)
Colossians 4:2–6 ESV
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
In Col 4:2-6 Paul gives his final instructions to the Colossians and these instructions largely explain how the Colossians ought to comport themselves in the world. If Col 3:18-4:1 was Paul’s instructions for the Colossians in their households, here are his instructions for them in the world.
Paul’s first instruction for the Colossians is to be steadfast and watchful in prayer. But more specifically, Paul asks that the Colossians would pray for his mission and that God would open a door for the word.
There are two things to notice here. First, Paul wants the Colossians to be devoted to prayer. Prayer is not something that Christians should visit from time to time but rather something that a Christian should devote themselves to.
This can be a tricky topic because of the influence of pietism on American churches. Notice, I speak pietism and not piety. Piety is a very good thing. Pietism, is a historical movement in the church that has hadunfortunate consequences.
One of the consequences of pietism is an overemphasis on emotions and feelings in Christian discipleship and formation. When it comes to growing in one’s faith and in various Christian practices, like prayer, the emphasis of pietism will be to focus on strong feelings or emotions leading in your prayer.
The Biblical pattern for prayer is much different. In the Bible, the corporate is emphasized more often than the individual when it comes to things like prayer and praise. Yes, we do have stories like Daniel opening his window to pray but this is not the norm. Typically, the Bible presents God’s people gathering together to pray and worship.
A great example of this would be from Acts 2:42 where the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem is described. It states that, “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” What is interesting to note is that final phrase “the prayers”. In the tradition of the synagogue there were set prayers that would be said on a daily and weekly basis that the community of faith would come together to say in the synagogue. It is very likely that the Christians in Jerusalem were following this same model.
So when Paul tells the Colossians that they should devote themselves to prayer, he is telling them that prayer should be a regular expression of their corporate life together. Christians should regularly be praying together. This is why we have corporate prayers in the liturgy on Sunday mornings and it is also a reason why we look for other opportunities to come together and prayer. Whether it is Friday morning Matins or our Lifesings at the murder mill.
The second thing here is that Paul desires for the Colossians to be praying for him and his ministry. Paul is in prison as he writes this letter but he is not deterred. He asks that the Colossians would pray that God would open a door for the message of the gospel to go forth.
Notice that Paul is not asking that they would pray for his release, but for the message to go forth. Paul does this in other places in his prison letters. He may be bounds, but the word of God is not bound.
› The application here is that you would pray for the ministry of the word. We pray for this corporately in our prayer for the Church and the World.
In verses 5 & 6 Paul turns from the subject of prayer to how the Colossians should relate to those outside the church.
Paul tells the Colossians to live with wisdom, make the most of the time, and for their speech to be gracious and seasoned with salt, so that they may know how they ought to answer each person.
In the Bible, wisdom is a huge topic. Wisdom is closely tied to maturity, obedience to God’s commands, and with the skill to navigate life.
Paul’s concern here is that the Colossians would live in wisdom so they can rightly relate to those who are outside the church. The way that this will be most visible is in the ways the Colossians use their time and how they speak.
Throughout his letters Paul voices a concern that the churches live in such a way that they do not bring unnecessary scorn on themselves. In 1 Thes 4:12 Paul shows a desire that the Thessalonians would “walk properly before outsiders”.
Christians should not seek conflict with the world outside the church. In Romans 12:18 Paul writes “so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
The way you will most often reap peace with those who are outside the church is by making the most of the time and by having gracious speech that is seasoned with salt. You could say that knowing how to use your time and what to say are two big features of what it means to walk in wisdom.
Proverbs 15:23 says, “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” and Proverbs 25:11 states that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
› As a Christian, you should seek to not only control your tongue (Pr 21:23 “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”) but also seek to have your speech be, as Paul says, seasoned with salt. The way this is accomplished is by submitting yourself to God’s Word. You must repent of the ways in which you have lost control of your tongue and receive God’s grace and instruction to guide you in wisdom, especially the wisdom of speech and how you use your time.
Final Greetings (v. 7-18)
The final 11 verses of Paul’s letter to the Colossians are his final greetings to various people.
These greetings have lead many scholars to attempt to reconstruct the history of the early church because they give us small glimpses into where certain people are at what time. While there are obvious limitations to such attempts, there is still much to gain from looking closely at these names to help fill in what was going on in the time of the New Testament church.
Moreover, such greetings help us to remember that Paul’s letters are not detached ideological statements. Paul is writing to churches and people who he is intimately concerned with. His instructions are to be applied and lived out and not merely placed into a volume of systematic theology.
Couriers (vv. 7-9)
Tychicus (vv. 7-8)
Colossians 4:7–8 ESV
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,
In verses 7 & 8 Paul introduces Tychicus as the one who bears the letter to the Colossians. Paul describes him as a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. Tychicus is going to further inform the Colossians of how Paul and his companions (likely in Ephesus) are doing and to encourage them.
This is a beautiful picture of the interconnected nature of the church. Paul has not met the Colossians personally and he is hoping to convey the fact that, despite this fact, they are still connected to one another in Christ.
Onesimus (v. 9)
Colossians 4:9 ESV
and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
Verse 9 shows that along with Tychicus is Onesimus. We learn from Paul’s letter to Philemon that Onesimus is from Colossae and was a slave of Philemon, who is a member of the Colossian church.
Onesimus fled from Philemon as a pagan, became a Christian (presumably under Paul’s apostolic ministry) and is now being sent back to Colossae with Paul’s letter to Philemon in hand.
All this background is likely reason why Paul would assure the Colossians of Onesimus’ status by describing him as a faithful and beloved brother.
Companions (vv. 10-14)
In verses 10-14 Paul mentions 6 companions who also send their greetings to the Colossians.
Aristarchus, Mark and Justus (vv. 10-11)
Colossians 4:10–11 ESV
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
In verses 10-11 we are introduced to the first three of these companions: Aristarchus, Mark the cousin of Barnabas, and Jesus who is called Justus.
Aristarchus is a fellow prisoner with Paul who is said to be with Paul in Ephesus in Acts 19:29 and as a travelling companion of Paul’s in Acts 20:4; 27:2.
Mark the cousin of Barnabas likely authored the Gospel of Mark. This is the same Mark who deserted Paul inActs 13:13. In Acts 15:37-39 Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement over whether or not Mark should accompany them on their missionary journey and they ultimately split ways over the dispute.
What we find here and elsewhere in the New Testament (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24; 1 Pet 5:13) that Mark is being brought restored from his previous failings and is a coworker with Paul.
This verse also suggests that the conflicts between Paul and Barnabas over both Mark and the Galatian controversy are being healed.
The third companion who Paul mentions in Jesus who is called Justus. These three are mentioned together by Paul as being of the circumcision and being comforts to Paul. What Paul is likely highlighting here is the fact that they are fellow Jews with Paul.
Epaphras (vv. 12-13)
Colossians 4:12–13 ESV
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
In verses 12-13 Paul mentions his fourth companion, Epaphras, who is a a Colossian.
Paul notes here that Epaphras struggles on behalf of his fellow Colossians in his prayers. This again highlights the reciprocal nature of the relationship between Christians in different churches and regions.
Paul particularly points out that Epaphras is praying for the Colossians to stand mature and be fully assured in all the will of God. These are some of the themes of the letter as a whole, that the Colossians would mature in their faith and that they would come to understand God’s will to exalt the name of Jesus by bringing both Jews and Gentiles into the church.
Luke & Demas (v. 14)
Colossians 4:14 ESV
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
The final two companions that Paul mentions in verse 14 are Luke and Demas. His mentioning of them is very short but there are a couple things to note.
It is here that we learn in the New Testament that Luke is a physician.
We know from 2 Tim 4:11 that Luke is Paul’s only companion at that time because Demas deserts Paul due to his “love of the world”. There is a warning here. Here is a man who was at one time a close companion of Paul but the final word we receive of him in the New Testament is that he deserts Paul due to his love of the world.
Colossians (vv. 15-17)
In verses 15-17 Paul turns from his companions to the Christians in Colossae.
The Brothers (v. 15)
Colossians 4:15 ESV
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Paul does not usually greet specific members in congregations that he is writing to but here in verse 15 where he greets Nympha and in Romans 16 where Paul greets several members of the Roman church.
It is interesting to note that it is in letters to churches that Paul has not personally visited that he greets individuals. Paul desires to establish good relations with the Colossians.
The Laodiceans (v. 16)
Colossians 4:16 ESV
And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
In verse 16 Paul brings up the Laodiceans. Laodicea is a neighboring city to Colossae in the Lycus River Valley several miles to the west (closer to Ephesus).
Paul intends his letter to the Colossians to be read by the Laodiceans. There is also a letter to the Laodiceans that he wants the Colossians to read.
One theory that I believe explains the situation quite well is that the letter from Laodicea is simply Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Scholars are largely agreed that Ephesians was not written to a specific church but rather was meant to be read by the church communities in Asia Minor.
One scenario would explain the whole scene. Paul is sending Tychicus and Onesimus with three letters. Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. Tychicus and Onesimus would first travel to Laodicea and deliver “Ephesians” before coming to Colossae and delivering Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon (to Philemon).
While there is little textual support for any theory, thinking about these letters in truly personal and relational forms helps to give color to the circumstances of the early church.
Archippus (v. 17)
Colossians 4:17 ESV
And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
Finally, Paul addresses Archippus and calls him to fulfill the ministry that he has from the Lord. Again, we don’t know for sure but it seems likely that Archippus has either been sent to Colossae or commissioned by the Colossian church to fulfill some sort of ministerial duty. One scholar (Wright) believes it possible that Archippus was to teach the new converts the faith.
Closing (v. 18)
Colossians 4:18 ESV
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Verse 18 concludes the letter. Paul often wrote his letters through the use of an amanuensis or a secretary. Paul often dictated his letters to an amanuensis but would write the final greetings himself to assure the validity and authenticity.
His final words are a call for the Colossians to remember his chains and for grace to be with them.
Though Paul is in chains, the word of the gospel is not. It continues to go forth in power. And the reason for this is because it is a gospel of grace. Grace has been throughout this letter and Paul concludes with it here. The Colossians have received grace and they are to live in grace and Paul calls them to remember this grace.
And God says the same thing to you from his word this morning. His grace is with you. It was with Paul in jail, it was with the new church in Colossae and you should take heart that God’s grace is with you today and for your today. If you have fallen, his grace is there to lift you up. If you are weak, it is there to make you strong. If you have stood firm in the faith, it is there to strengthen you even more that you might continue to stand and fight!
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