[Colossians 4] ^4:1 To the lords: provide^° the just and the equal things to the bondservants of yours^°, knowing that you^° also have a Lord in the heavens.

 

             ^4:2 Persevere^° in your^° prayer, watching in it in thanksgiving; ^4:3 praying at the same-time concerning us also in-order-that God may open a door of the word to us, to speak the mystery of the Christ, because of which I have also been bound, ^4:4 in-order-that I may manifest it, as it is essential for me to speak. ^4:5 Walk^° in wisdom toward the ones who are outside, buying up the time. ^4:6 Let your^° speech always be in gratitude {i.e., graciously}, having been seasoned with salt, so as to know how it is essential for you^° to answer each one.

 

             ^4:7 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant, and my fellow bondservant in the Lord will make all things known to you^° according-to me {i.e., my circumstances}, ^4:8 whom I sent to you^{° *}for this same thing, in-order-that he might know about the things concerning you^° and in-order-that he may comfort your^° hearts; ^4:9 together-with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one from you^°. They will be making all things known to you^° the things which are done here.

 

             ^4:10 Aristarchus my fellow captive greets you^°, and Mark, the cousin to Barnabas (concerning whom you^° received commandments; if he comes to you^°, accept^° him), ^4:11 and Jesus who is called^* Justus. These, being from the circumcision, are my only fellow workers in the kingdom of God, those who became a comfort to me. ^4:12 Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, the one from you^°, greets you^°. He is always fighting on your^° behalf in his prayers in-order-that you^° might stand complete and having been fulfilled in all the will of God. ^4:13 For^* I am testifying of him, He has much zeal on your^° behalf, and the ones in Laodicea and the ones in Hierapolis. ^4:14 Luke, the beloved physician and Demas greet you^°. ^4:15 Greet^° the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the congregation^* which is in his house.

             ^4:16 And whenever the letter here is read before you^°, do^*° forward it, in-order-that it should also be read in the congregation^* of the Laodiceans, and in-order-that you^° also should read the letter from Laodicea. ^4:17 And say^° to Archippus, Beware of the service which you received in the Lord, in-order-that you should fulfill it.

 

             ^4:18 The greeting from me, Paul, with my own hand. Remember^° my bonds. Grace be with you^°. Amen.

 

             {NOTES: Please read the Preface and other non-bible sections. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the ‘Definitions’ section. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e., *FOR is different from FOR* is different from FOR. ^° (degree sign) denotes plural forms.}

 

 

{{ Introduction to 1 & 2 Thessalonians 52-53 AD

 

            The letter was sent to a congregation in Thessalonica apparently who had problems with the teachings previously given to them. We typically call those teachings the ‘Second Coming’. They believed (wrongly) that Jesus was coming back shortly. One thing that false religious groups and ‘self-proclaimed’ (false) prophets have taught us in the past 125 years or so is that no one knows when Jesus is coming back. Jesus did not even know (Mat 24:36, Mk 13:32). A very vivid picture is given of how the judgment, revelation of the Lord, Jesus’ coming and the end occur. Jesus and the messengers of God would come with a sound of a trumpet (common in O.T. and Greek history as a call to battle) in flaming fire. Christians will meet Jesus in the air, as stated in 1Thessalonians 4:16-17. And ‘the ones not obeying^* the good-news of our Lord Jesus, 1:9 who will suffer-punishment, the sentence of everlasting utter-destruction away from the face of the Lord’ as stated in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. The warning that the ‘man of sin’ would come first, 2Thessalonians 2, Caesar Nero (called 666 by John in Revelation 13:18). This was at a time that Christians would start suffering persecution from the hands of the Roman government. A quick ‘to the point’ conclusion in 2Thessalonians 3 and a commandment to stay away from those who do not teach ‘the tradition received from us.’ A commandment we hope all Christians will obey by not following the ‘traditions of men’ and so save themselves from the ‘fire.’}}