Lecture 1 — Farewell

^4:2^ Be instant in prayer: watching in it with thanksgiving. [n. 182]

^4:3^ Praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound): [n. 184]

^4:4^ That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.

^4:5^ Walk with wisdom towards them who are without, redeeming the time. [n. 186]

^4:6^ Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man. [n. 188]

^4:7^ All the things that concern me, Tychicus, our dearest brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will make known to you. [n. 189]

^4:8^ What I have sent to you for this same purpose, that he may know the things that concern you and comfort your hearts:

^4:9^ With Onesimus, a most beloved and faithful brother, who is one of you. All things that are done here, they shall make known to you.

^4:10^ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you: and Mark, the cousin german of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him. [n. 191]

^4:11^ And Jesus who is called Justus: who are of the circumcision. These only are my helpers, in the kingdom of God: who have been a comfort to me.

^4:12^ Epaphras greets you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God.

^4:13^ For I bear him testimony that he has much labor for you and for them who are at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis.

^4:14^ Luke, the most dear physician, greets you: and Demas.

^4:15^ Greet the brethren who are at Laodicea: and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

^4:16^ And when this epistle shall have been read with you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans.

^4:17^ And say to Archippus: take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it. [n. 193]

^4:18^ The greeting of Paul with my own hand. Be mindful of my bands. Grace be with you. Amen. [n. 194]

182. Above, Paul gave specific teachings for each class of persons; here he gives instructions to everyone.

First, he shows what their relationship to others ought to be;

and second, how some will be acting towards them, at all the things that concern me.

In regard to the first he does two things.

First, he shows how they should act towards him, the Apostle, their prelate;

and second, towards others, especially unbelievers, at walk with wisdom.

In regard to the first he does two things.

First, he urges them to pray in general;

second, to pray for him, at praying for us also.

183. Prayer should have three characteristics: it should be constant, alert, and with gratitude.

It should be constant, and so Paul says, be instant in prayer, that is, pray with perseverance: pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17); they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

It should also be alert, so that the mind does not become oppressed; and so Paul adds, watching: watch with your prayers (1 Pet 4:7); all night he continued in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).

Prayer should also be with gratitude, that is, with thanksgiving; for if we are ungrateful for the good things we have received, we do not deserve new favors. And so Paul continues, with thanksgiving: give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess 5:18); and in Philippians we have but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6).

184. Next, Paul asks them to pray for him, saying, praying for us also, because subjects should pray for their prelates; for their prelates watch over them, and the welfare of the prelates affects all of their subjects: pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph (2 Thess 3:1). They should pray that God may open unto us a door of speech, that is, the door of our mouth, through which the words coming from our heart pass; and they should pray that God give to Paul the grace to preach his word in a fitting manner. This opening also points to something great: and he opened his mouth and taught them (Matt 5:2); and so Paul adds, to speak the mystery of Christ: he utters mysteries in the Spirit (1 Cor 14:2). And I, Paul, need these things, because I am suffering for the word of Christ. And so you must pray that I can do so boldly: the Gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal (2 Tim 2:9). You must pray that God may open, that is, unblock, to us a door for the word.

185. There are three obstacles which can block the word. One is fear, and so Paul says, for which I also am bound. The second is its profundity, so that it cannot be understood by the faithful; and so Paul says, that I may make it manifest. The third obstacle is that the way it is preached or the time may not be appropriate; and so Paul says, as I ought to speak. But I brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh (1 Cor 3:1); who then is the faithful and wise steward whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? (Luke 12:42).

186. Then when he says, walk with wisdom, he shows how they should act towards outsiders:

first, as to their manner of life;

second, in what they say, at let your speech.

187. Paul says, walk with wisdom towards them who are without, that is, unbelievers. And do so with wisdom, i.e., wisely: for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom (Wis 7:28).

The reason for doing this is that they may be redeeming the time. A person makes the most of his trouble when he overlooks what is owing to him, in order to avoid trouble. Now, they were being troubled by these outsiders. And so Paul wants them to make the most of this trouble by means of wisdom: maintain good conduct among the gentiles (1 Pet 2:12).

188. Paul also instructs them as to their speech. First, it should be gracious; and so he says, let your speech be always in grace; a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies (Sir 6:5).

Second, it should be considerate; and so he says, seasoned with salt. Salt signifies considerateness or discretion, because just as salt makes food savory, so every inconsiderate action is bitter and irregular: have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50). They should do these things so that you may know how you ought to answer every man. For those who have wisdom should be answered one way; and the foolish are to be answered in another way: answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself (Prov 26:4); always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you (1 Pet 3:15).

189. Then when he says, all the things that concern me, Paul tells them about some others.

First, about those whom he is sending to them;

and second, about those who are staying with him, at** Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you**.

190. Paul is sending to them a representative, whom he now describes in three ways. First, as to love, saying, our dearest brother, that is, by the love of charity, which makes a person more precious than gold: a man will be more precious than gold (Isa 13:12). Second, he is described as to his faith, and faithful minister: it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy (1 Cor 4:2). Third, from his humility; and so Paul says, and fellow servant, in the ministry, but a fellow servant in the Lord, because a prelate should be looking out for the honor of God and for the benefit of those over whom he has charge.

Why is Tychicus being sent? To learn the condition of the faithful. Go now, see if it is well with your brothers, and with the flock; and bring me word again (Gen 37:14); see how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them (1 Sam 17:18). He is also to encourage and comfort them: for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith (Rom 1:11). Our Lord, who was sent by the Father, also came for this purpose: to comfort all who mourn (Isa 61:2).

Then he mentions his companion, with Onesimus. These two will tell you of all things that are done here; they will relate what you are doing to me for correction, and tell you what I am doing so you may have an example.

191. Then when he says, Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, he shows how those who are remaining with the Apostle greet them. The text is clear.

And Mark, the cousin german of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received commandments. We read in Acts that a certain person by the name of John, surnamed Mark, had left Paul and Barnabas when they set out on one of their journeys; however, he later returned to them (Acts 15:37). Barnabas wanted to take him back, but Paul refused. As a result, Paul and Barnabas went their different ways.

Later, Paul wrote to the Colossians that they were not to receive Mark. But now, since Mark had changed, he asks them to receive him. Thus, concerning whom you have received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him. Or, it could be understood this way: and Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom, that is, Barnabas, you have received instructions.

And Jesus who is called Justus; he was a holy man, and so was called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision, sent to preach the Gospel of Christ: what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice (Phil 1:18). Thus he mentions the gentiles first, and then the Jews. Epaphras who is one of you, because he was an Asian. Their wish for the Colossians is that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jas 1:4);** that you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God**, that is, in all things relating to the will of God.

Then he mentions Luke, who it seems, was not Jewish by birth, because he was from Antioch, and a physician. He singles him out because he had great authority in the Church because of the Gospel he wrote while the Apostle was still alive. He also mentions Demas.

192. Then when he says, greet the brethren, he mentions those whom the Colossians ought to greet: first, those from another church, and second, those in their own. We can see from what he says, and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans, that Paul wrote other letters: the one to the Laodiceans mentioned here, and another to the Corinthians, besides the first and second, because in 1 Corinthians he says: I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men (1 Cor 5:9).

There are two reasons why they are not in the canon: either there was some doubt about their authority, because they were possibly distorted, and had been destroyed in the churches, or because they contained nothing different from the others.

193. And say to Archippus. He was their prelate, and he tells them to warn him: take heed to the ministry which you have received: fulfill your ministry (2 Tim 4:5). One is said to fulfill his ministry when he does that for which he received it.

Still, it does not seem proper for those in a congregation to warn their own prelate (Exod 19:24). I answer that a member of the congregation is forbidden to rebuke him sharply or insult him, but he can warn him in a charitable way as Paul rebuked Peter (Gal 2:11).

But why did he not write to the prelate? Because the prelate exists for the Church and not the Church for the prelate.

194. The greeting of Paul with my own hand. It was the Apostle’s practice to have someone else write the entire letter, and at the end of it he would write something in his own hand: I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand (2 Thess 3:17). He does the same here, so that they will not be deceived. And he says, be mindful of my bands, because he was fettered in Rome: as an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord (Jas 5:10); remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith (Heb 13:7).

Then he wishes them well, concluding: grace be with you: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17), to whom be praise and glory now and forever.

Amen.