COLOSSIANS 4:5

The Bible says in Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” The verses that came before these explain the context. Paul gave his prayer request that God would open doors of opportunity for him to speak about the mystery of Christ. Now in Colossians 4:5-6 Paul is telling the believers how they can be a witness in the world around them as they go about their daily lives.

Those “that are without” refers to those who are unbelievers. Unbelievers are outside of the faith and outside of the family of God. What is important for these people is that they eventually become part of God’s family by believing in Jesus. That is Christ’s desire. He came into the world and died upon the cross so that all would be saved. People who believe in Jesus have a responsibility to live in such a way that the unbelievers will notice the difference and will become interested in the reason for that difference. That is called having a testimony for Christ. That is one reason that the Bible says to Christians in First John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” And it says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Of course, this whole concept of believers being a witness to the world around them comes from the teachings of Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Colossians 4:5 tells believers to “walk in wisdom.” There is a wise way to conduct your daily life and there is an unwise way. If more believers walked in wisdom, then more unbelievers would be attracted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Colossians 4:5 also says that Christians should be “redeeming the time.” This is an interesting phrase. Of course, the word “redeem” is often used to speak of the salvation of the soul and “to redeem” literally means to pay a price for something. But in Colossians 4:5 instead of talking about losing a precious soul, we are talking about losing precious time. Every person has only a limited amount of time on this earth. It is important to not waste your time. If you waste your time, you are wasting the opportunities that God is giving to you. Jesus said about His life on the earth and the way that He lived it, “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The time cometh when no man can work.”

Colossians 4:5 reminds us of the importance of our actions as viewed by unbelievers. Colossians 4:6 reminds us of the importance of our words as heard by unbelievers. It says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” The first thing said about our speech is that it should be “always with grace.” Thayer defines grace as “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.” In other words we should have the type of speech whereby the unbelievers enjoy hearing our words. The words that we say should have all of these positive attributes. Our words should also be “seasoned with salt.” Salt is used as a substance to make food more palatable and thus more desirable. Food without salt can be bland and unappetizing. In the same way words without the right quality to them can hurt a believer’s influence on those around them. Use good words, kind words, and positive words in order to have a good testimony to those who are outside of the faith.

Notice that Colossians 4:6 says “that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” This does not paint a picture of Christians being aggressive with the gospel. What it does show is that when Christians live right and talk right, unbelievers will see and notice and will be attracted to the gospel. When is the last time that someone came to you and asked you about your faith because of the way that you live or the way that you talk? That is what should happen. Remember that Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The best time to share the gospel is when someone is ready for the gospel.

Notice the words that Paul used when he spoke of others. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:7, “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.” Paul said three things about Tychicus. Paul called him a “beloved brother,” a “faithful minister,” and a “fellowservant.” The equality of believers is emphasized with the words “brother” and “fellowservant.” All Christians are brothers. However, in these last days it is well known that many who call themselves ministers are filled with jealousy and competitiveness towards other ministers. There are many ministers, but not many who are “faithful” ministers.

Paul gave the reason that he had sent Tychicus to the believers in Colossae. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:8, “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.” Paul understood that he benefited greatly from his Christian friends and co-workers. Evidently Paul benefited from knowing Tychicus as “a beloved brother, and a faithful minister, and a fellowservant.” Because Paul was genuinely concerned about the Colossian believers, Paul wanted them to also benefit from knowing Tychicus. Every Christian has something to offer other Christians. Every true believer has one or more spiritual gifts, and the exercise of the spiritual gifts will benefit other believers. The Bible says in First Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to the profit of everyone.”

Paul wrote in Colossians 4:9, “With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.” Both Onesimus and Tychicus are said to be a “beloved brother.” Both are said to be “faithful.” Tychicus was a “faithful minister,” and Onesimus was “faithful.” Tychicus was a “minister,” but Onesimus was not. But they both had the same character, the same recognition, and the same accomplishments. Just be faithful at whatever God has called you to do, and you will be rewarded for your faithfulness whether you have been given a preaching ministry or whether you have some other calling.

Paul wrote in Colossians 4:10-11, “Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him; And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” Because Aristarchus is called a “fellowprisoner,” of course it means that he was in prison with Paul. The others that Paul mentions must have still been free and maybe they visited him often while he was in the prison. It is interesting to notice how often Paul made it clear that he viewed other believers as his equal. Aristarchus was a “fellowprisoner” of Paul’s. All believers were “fellowworkers” with Paul. Recognizing and practicing equality among believers is very important because we are all equal in God’s eyes. All have sinned, and Jesus died for all, and all become saved by the new birth through faith in Christ. If you do not practice the equality of believers, then you are not practicing Christianity.

The Bible says in Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” In these prayers that were made for the Christians in Colossae we see something important to understand concerning the will of God. It is important to know the will of God. Do you know the will of God? This is the will of God: “that ye may stand perfect and complete.” The will of God does not have so much to do with where you are or what religious organizational activities you are involved in. The will of God has to do with who and what you are as a person.

A Christian is in the will of God if he stands “perfect and complete.” The word that is translated “perfect” refers to arriving at a goal or coming to the proper end of something. When you first become a believer in Jesus, you are heading towards a goal: the goal of becoming the Christian that you can be and should be. The word that is translated “complete” means “fulfilled.” Something that has been fulfilled has been made full: it abounds. God’s will for every believer is that they become everything that they can be in their life of faith in Christ.

Near the end of the book of Colossians Paul writes in Colossians 4:13-15, “For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.” As the Holy Spirit gave these words to Paul, once again an emphasis is on having the proper relationships between Christians. Epaphras is said to have a “great zeal” for the believers in Colossae. Luke is called the “beloved” physician. Paul calls the believers in Colossae, “brethren.” We live in the last days. This kind of love among believers has departed many places, and without love we are nothing. Where love once existed among some Christians, there now exists ambition and jealousy and competition.

Notice that in Colossians 4:15 the Bible speaks of a man named “Nymphas” and “the church which is in his house.” This phrase tells us many things about early churches and church buildings. First it tells us that there was no church building in the city of Colossae. When the Christians gathered together, they met at someone’s house. There is no mention of a church building in the entire New Testament. Of course, we know that a church refers to the people and not the building. The word “church” refers literally to people. It means “those who are called out.” Many of the signs in front of church buildings are very unscriptural. A sign that says, “The First Baptist Church,” instead it might say, “The Meeting Place of the First Baptist Church.” The building is not the church.

The Bible says in Colossians 4:16, “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” The epistle from Laodicea may very well be the epistle that was originally written to the Ephesians. All three cities are very close to each other in Asia Minor. Whichever epistle it was, it was undoubtedly one of the books of the New Testament because of the encouragement given to read it. Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit that both books should be read by these Christians. Of course, every Christian should feed upon the Word of God. The Bible says in First Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Paul wrote in Colossians 4:17, “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” This is the second time in the last several verses that the word “fulfil” has been used. It was used in verse seven when it was translated as “complete.” The Lord has a ministry and a work that He wants to give to every believer. How sad it is that some will not fulfill the opportunity that the Lord has given them.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 4:18, “The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” Paul said that he wrote the final part of this epistle with his own hand. Of course, that means that he did not write the rest of it with his own hand. In other words Paul had a scribe to whom he dictated most of the epistle. We know that Paul had a serious problem with his eyes. He was a good example of a person who did not let his disabilities keep him from doing God’s work.

Paul wrote, “Remember my bonds.” We know that he wanted others to pray for him so that he would have more opportunities to serve Christ. Paul wanted to be free from prison so that he could do more for the Lord. Perhaps Christians in our day should look at retirement in the same way: not to use their new freedom for themselves, but to use it to find more opportunities to serve the Lord.

And finally, it says in the last phrase, “Grace be with you. Amen.” Every believer relies upon grace. We only became Christians because of the grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And no matter how great are our efforts, we are entirely dependent upon grace for everything. If the grace of God is with us, we have all that we need.

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