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Colossians 4:5–6 and the Other Verses of Colossians 4

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verses of the day for May 8th are Colossians 4:5–6.  The title of the book Colossians is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians” and “The Letter of Paul to the Colossians.”  Colossians was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Colossae [kuh-LAHS-igh or kuh-LAHS-ee].  Some people refer to the city as Colosse [kuh-LAHS-ee].  The spelling Colossae and the pronunciation kuh-LAHS-igh are closer to the spelling and pronunciation of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek name of the city:  Κολοσσαί [pronounced kah-lahs-SIGH and transliterated as Kolossai].  In Koine Greek, the diphthong [DIFF-thahng or DIP-thahng] ai is pronounced just like the English word eye.  Likewise, in Latin, the diphthong ae is pronounced just like the English word eye.  Also, when a word is transliterated from Greek into Latin, the letter k is replaced by the letter c.  

Below is a link to a map that shows the locations of Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.  On that map, the word Hierapolis is misspelled with the i and the e transposed.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/51Col-1.jpg

For geographical context, below is a link to a map that shows the seven churches of Revelation.  The key for that map is located in grid coordinates B3 and C3.  The seven churches of Revelation are located in grid coordinate B2.  A list of those seven churches, sorted in order of mention in Revelation 2–3, is located in grid coordinate D1.  Laodicea is located in grid coordinate B2.  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt2.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt2.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Colossians 4.  

Colossians 4:1

Masters, grant to your bondservants justice and fairness, knowing that you, too, have a Master in Heaven.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert by means of it with thanksgiving; 

Note:  All prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray.  In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.  

Regarding being devoted to prayer, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ needs to keep alert for an attitude of independence from the Trinity, and praying to God the Father helps a believer to be focused on being dependent on the Trinity.  In addition, a believer needs to express thankfulness to God the Father when praying.  Expressing thankfulness to God the Father helps a believer refrain from having an attitude of ingratitude toward the Trinity.  An attitude of ingratitude toward the Trinity is an aspect of an attitude of independence from the Trinity.  

Below are some details regarding the mechanics of prayer.  

A good way to start a prayer is as follows:  “Dear Heavenly Father.”  

Listed below are four steps for praying.  

(1) Confession:  One must be in fellowship with the Trinity when praying to God the Father.  Once a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged all known unconfessed post-salvation sins—confessing only one time for each sin—fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

(2) Thanksgiving:  One should thank God the Father for His graciousness.  Thanking Him for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged on the cross for oneʼs sins and the sins of humanity is a good example of thanksgiving.  

(3) Intercession:  One can pray to God the Father on behalf of others.  

(4) Petition:  One can pray to God the Father on behalf of oneself.  

There are no verses in the Bible that list that sequence for praying; nonetheless, it makes sense to make sure that one is in fellowship with God the Father before proceeding with any further communication, to then express appreciation to Him before making any requests, and to treat others as more important than oneself by making requests for them before making requests for oneself.  Sometimes, there is obviously only sufficient time for a short prayer without all of the steps.  In such a case, step 1 is still a necessary step because if one has committed known post-salvation sins for which one has not yet confessed to God the Father, one needs to confess those sins to Him before proceeding with the rest of the prayers.  

Also, at the end of any prayer, it is good to say something like the following:  “In the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, amen.”  The word amen can be translated into English as “I believe it.”  If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been judged on the cross for our sins, we would be unable to pray to God the Father.  When one prays in the Lord Jesus Christʼs name, one is calling attention to His work on the cross that made praying to God the Father possible.  Finishing a prayer in this way should even be done when confessing oneʼs sins without asking for anything.  

Also, when asking God the Father for something—in other words, when praying to Him—whatever the believer requests must be consistent with God the Fatherʼs plan.  Of course, details of God the Fatherʼs plan are at times unknown to a believer.  In that regard, the believer needs to recognize that if whatever a believer requests in a prayer is not given to that believer, it could be that the prayer was inconsistent with God the Fatherʼs plan.  Also, whenever a believer makes requests to God the Father when that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity, whatever that believer requests might not be given to that believer.  

When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ prays to God the Father, that believer has a desire or motive behind that prayer.  In that regard, how God the Father answers prayers can be categorized into four categories involving what God the Father answers positively and what He answers negatively.  Listed below are those four categories regarding God the Fatherʼs answers to prayers.  

1.  Positive-Negative:  God the Father gives a yes answer to the prayer but a no answer to the desire behind that prayer.  For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer is seeking happiness from money, God the Father could permit that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could refrain from making that believer be happy.  In such a situation, God the Father permits such a believer to experience self-induced misery.  

2.  Negative-Positive:  God the Father gives a no answer to the prayer but a yes answer to the desire behind that prayer.  For example, if a believer were to pray for a million dollars because that believer wants to help people with that money, God the Father could refrain from permitting that believer to have a million dollars, but God the Father could enable that believer to help people in some other way or ways.  

3.  Positive-Positive:  God the Father gives a yes answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.  

4.  Negative-Negative:  God the Father gives a no answer to both the prayer and the desire behind that prayer.  

The content of Colossians 4:2 is repeated below for reference.  

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert by means of it with thanksgiving;

Colossians 4:3

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the Word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned, 

Note:  Rather than Paul asking for prayers to try to satisfy any selfish desires of Paul, he asked for prayers for the sake of Paul and others having opportunities to share the Word of God with people.  Also, while there were hints about the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, the New Testament contains many details about the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, Church Age doctrines were a mystery to people who lived before the New Testament was available.  

With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

The content of Colossians 4:3 is repeated below for reference.  

Colossians 4:3

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the Word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned, 

Colossians 4:4

in order that I may make it known as it is necessary for me to speak.  

Note:  In this verse, the phrase make it known refers to making the Word of God known.  In addition to Paul asking for prayers for the sake of Paul and others having opportunities to share the Word of God with people, he also asked for prayers for the sake of him fulfilling his responsibility to communicate the Word of God when those opportunities arise.  In that regard, while the believers praying for Paul would be unable to pray that God the Father control Paulʼs volition (free will), the believers could pray that God the Father would have God the Holy Spirit enable Paul to remain focused on the necessity of communicating the Word of God.  In addition, the believers praying for Paul could also pray that God the Father would have God the Holy Spirit cause to come Paulʼs remembrance relevant Bible doctrines pertinent to Paulʼs various circumstances.  

Colossians 4:5

Conduct yourselves / Walk with wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

Note:  This verse refers to each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ behaving in accordance with the Word of God so that each believer thereby appropriately uses the time that God the Father has planned for that believer.  

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt—in order that you will know how you should respond to each person.  

Note:  In this verse, the salt reference is metaphorical.  Also, it is possible that the salt referenced in this verse was a type of salt other than iodized salt.  Regarding the part of this verse after the em dash, Paul is indicating that he is telling the Colossian believers what is before the em dash so that the Colossian believers would know how to respond to people.  In that regard, believers should be gracious in their communicating.  

Colossians 4:7

As to all my affairs, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bondservant in the Lord, will bring you information.

Note:  In this verse, the word brother refers to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Colossians 4:8

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts, 

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

Colossians 4:9

along with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is from among you.  They will inform you about the whole situation here.

Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings, and Barnabasʼs cousin/nephew Mark, about whom you received orders/commands/commandments—if he comes to you, welcome him—

Note:  The Koine Greek noun ἀνεψιὸς [pronounced ah-neh-psee-AHS and transliterated as anepsios] can be translated as “cousin” or “nephew” in this verse.  That Koine Greek noun is an inflected form of the root word ἀνεψιός [pronounced ah-neh-psee-AHS and transliterated as anepsios].  

Note:  In verse 11, the person referred to as Justus had the same first name as the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Colossians 4:11

and Jesus who is called Justus.  These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proven to be an encouragement to me.

Note:  Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus are Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The phrase who are from the circumcision is what indicates that they are Jewish.  

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly / laboring fervently / struggling / striving / fighting for you in his prayers, that you may stand firm / hold your ground mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Note:  Epaphras was a prayer warrior, metaphorically calling in fire support for other believers.  The term fire support is a military term referring to shooting at opposing forces in order to provide support for forces on oneʼs own side.  Fire support can involve direct fire support or indirect fire support.  Direct fire involves the firing of something at a target by means of aiming at the target itself.  Therefore, direct fire involves shooting at a target to which there is a direct line of sight.  Indirect fire involves the firing of something at a target without aiming at the target itself.  Indirect fire can be shot either at a target to which there is a direct line of sight or at a target to which there is an absence of a direct line of sight.  As such, indirect fire can be used to shoot at targets that are unseen by those providing the indirect fire support but are seen by an artillery spotter (also known as an artillery observer or forward observer).  Some means of indirect fire have sufficiently long range for shooting at targets that are located over the horizon.  Examples of the means by which indirect fire support can be accomplished include grenade launchers, mortars (tubes that launch bombs at high angles), cannon artillery, or rocket artillery.  Grenade launchers and mortars are typically used for short ranges, while cannons and rockets can typically be used for both short and long ranges, including ranges to targets that are located over the horizon.  

Aircraft can also be used to provide fire support.  The fire support provided by aircraft is known as close air support.  Close air support involves aircraft being used to shoot at a target or targets close to forces that are on the same side as the side of the aircraft.  Close air support can involve a direct line of sight to a target or an absence of a direct line of sight to a target.  For a target to which there is an absence of a direct line of sight from the aircraft, a forward observer can provide targeting assistance for the aircraft.  

Regarding the content of Colossians 4:12, the prayers that a believer prays on behalf of others can be likened to calling upon God the Father for fire support on behalf of the others.  While the believer doing the praying might be powerless to help by any other means than praying, the Members of the Trinity have the power to help those for whom the believer prays.  In that regard, the content of Colossians 4:12 involves a warfare-related theme.  

In praying to God the Father for support on behalf of other believers, Epaphras experienced circumstances such that it was as though he were struggling or striving in a battle.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is in what way or ways Epaphrasʼs praying involved such struggling or striving.  Regardless of the way or ways, Epaphras was making concerted efforts to help others by praying for them.  

Epaphras prayed for other believers for the purpose of them being able to metaphorically hold their ground in the sense of resisting an adversary or adversaries in battle.  Someone who resists an enemy in battle can be referred to as standing firm.  In that regard, it is worth noting that absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that the purpose of Epaphrasʼs prayers was for other believers to go on the offensive.  

Rather than praying for other believers to be able to self-assertively try to solve their problems, Epaphras prayed that the other believers could be resolute by the means that is in accordance with the will of God the Father.  In order to be resolute by the means that is in accordance with the will of God the Father, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and then apply the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.  

A believer who learns and obeys a sufficient amount of the Word of God will be mature.  Such a believer will also be fully assured regarding the Trinity taking care of matters for that believer—in other words, completely confident that the Trinity will take care of matters for that believer.  It is God the Fatherʼs will that a believer be that way.  Of course, God the Father permits each person to use his or her volition (free will) to make his or her own choices.  In that regard, a believer praying for others can pray that God the Father has God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take care of matters such that the others have an opportunity or opportunities to become believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who study and obey the Word of God regularly.  God the Son can take care of matters by controlling circumstances, and God the Holy Spirit can take care of matters by causing information to come to mind.  

Colossians 4:13

Indeed, I testify for him that he has much toil/aguish/pain for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:14

Luke, the beloved healer/curer, sends you his greetings—and Demas.

Note:  The Luke referenced in this verse is the Luke who wrote The Gospel According to Luke and The Acts of the Apostles.  

Colossians 4:15

Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the assembly / ekklēsian [ek-klay-SEE-ahn] / church that is in her house.  

Note:  In this verse is the Koine Greek noun ἐκκλησίαν [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ahn and transliterated as ekklēsian].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐκκλησία [pronounced ek-klay-SEE-ah and transliterated as ekklēsia].  The word ekklēsia refers to an assembly.  In the context of this verse, ekklēsia refers to an assembly of believers.  In that regard, the word church with a lowercase c is used because the context of this verse involves an assembly of believers rather than all believers collectively.  References to all believers collectively involve the word Church with a capital C.  

Colossians 4:16

When the epistle is read among you, have it also read to the assembly / ekklēsian [ek-klay-SEE-ahn] / church of the Laodiceans, and you, for your part, read the epistle from Laodicea.

Note:  Unspecified in the Bible is what the epistle from Laodicea is.  

Colossians 4:17

Also, say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”  

Note:  In this verse, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “say” is εἴπατε [pronounced AY-pah-teh and transliterated as eipate].  That verb is an inflected form of the root word λέγω [pronounced LEH-goh and transliterated as legō].  The inflected form eipate is plural.  That inflected form is also in the imperative mood.  A verb in the imperative mood is a command.  Therefore, eipate involves a command given to recipients of The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians.  That command involves Paul indicating to the recipients of The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians that Paul wanted a message to be communicated to Archippus.  

Because The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians was written to believers who were located in Colossae and because the content of Colossians 4:17 involves Paul commanding recipients of The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians to communicate to Archippus, Archippus must have been located somewhere other than Colossae.  In that regard, the context of the content of the preceding verses involves references to Laodicea.  Therefore, it is possible that Archippus was located in Laodicea.  

Unspecified in Colossians 4:17 and the surrounding verses is what the ministry of Archippus was.  Regardless of what the ministry of Archippus was, Paul called attention to Archippusʼs responsibility of fulfilling that ministry.  Also, Paul called attention to Archippus receiving that ministry from the Lord Jesus Christ.  By calling attention to Archippus receiving that ministry from the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul emphasized focusing on Archippusʼs responsibility to serve the Lord.  

Regarding responsibility, rank hath its responsibilities.  That’s it (nothing else).  In other words, a believer who is in a position of rank should focus on oneʼs responsibilities instead of trying to have privileges for oneself.  

Colossians 4:18

The greeting/salutation from Paul with my own hand—remember my bonds; the grace with you.

Note:  Paul had been imprisoned, as mentioned in verse 3.  In that regard, the word bonds in this verse refers to Paulʼs imprisonment.  Also, the phrase with my own hand refers to Paul himself writing rather than a scribe writing what Paul dictated.  Unspecified in this verse and the preceding verses is whether Paul was referring to himself having written the entire epistle without dictating any of it or whether Paul was referring to himself having written the ending of the epistle without dictating that ending.  

Paul finishes the epistle with a focus on grace.  In that regard, Paul wrote elliptically, omitting a verb.  It is possible that the omission of the verb in the context of the content of this verse could grab the attention of a reader or hearer of this verse.  Also, it is worth noting that rather than Paul wishing that the Colossians have good luck, Paul focuses on the grace of the Trinity.  Absent from the Bible is any reference to luck.  Instead, the Bible focuses on the Trinity.  In that regard, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role.  Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan.  The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son.  Regarding grace, God the Fatherʼs plan is gracious, God the Son is gracious in executing the plan, and God the Holy Spirit is gracious in revealing the plan.  Luck is a false notion.  In that regard, Paul finished this epistle by focusing on what is real:  grace.  

Sincerely,

John