rwp - Colossians:4:7-18

rwp@Colossians:4:7 @{All my affairs} (\ta kat' eme panta\). "All the things relating to me." The accusative case the object of \gnrisei\. The same idiom in strkjv@Acts:25:14; strkjv@Phillipians:1:2|. {Tychicus} (\Tuchikos\). Mentioned also in strkjv@Ephesians:6:21| as the bearer of that Epistle and with the same verb \gnrisei\ (future active of \gnriz\) and with the same descriptive epithet as here (\ho agaptos adelphos kai pistos diakonos en Kurii\, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord) except that here we have also \kai sundoulos\ (and fellow-servant). Abbott suggests that Paul adds \sundoulos\ because he had used it of Epaphras in strkjv@1:7|. Perhaps \pistos\ goes with both substantives and means faithful to Paul as well as to Christ.

rwp@Colossians:4:8 @{I have sent} (\epempsa\). Epistolary aorist active indicative of \pemp\ as in strkjv@Ephesians:6:22|. {That ye may know} (\hina gnte\). Second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of \ginsk\, "that ye may come to know." This the correct text, not \gni\ (third singular). {Our estate} (\ta peri hmn\). "The things concerning us." {May comfort} (\parakalesi\). First aorist active subjunctive. Proper rendering here and not "may exhort."

rwp@Colossians:4:9 @{Together with Onesimus} (\sun Onsimi\). Co-bearer of the letter with Tychicus and praised on a par with him, runaway slave though he is. {Who is one of you} (\hos estin ex humn\). Said not as a reproach to Colossae for having such a man, but as a privilege to the church in Colossae to give a proper welcome to this returning converted slave and to treat him as a brother as Paul argues to Philemon.

rwp@Colossians:4:10 @{Aristarchus} (\Aristarchos\). He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection (Acts:19:29; strkjv@20:4|) and started with Paul to Rome (Acts:27:2; strkjv@Philemon:1:24|). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now. {My fellow-prisoner} (\ho sunaichmaltos mou\). One of Paul's compounds, found elsewhere only in Lucian. Paul uses it of Epaphras in strkjv@Philemon:1:23|, but whether of actual voluntary imprisonment or of spiritual imprisonment like \sunstratites\ (fellow-soldier) in strkjv@Phillipians:2:25; strkjv@Philemon:1:2| we do not know. Abbott argues for a literal imprisonment and it is possible that some of Paul's co-workers (\sun-ergoi\) voluntarily shared imprisonment with him by turns. {Mark} (\Markos\). Once rejected by Paul for his defection in the work (Acts:15:36-39|), but now cordially commended because he had made good again. {The cousin of Barnabas} (\ho anepsios Barnab\). It was used for "nephew" very late, clearly "cousin" here and common so in the papyri. This kinship explains the interest of Barnabas in Mark (Acts:12:25; strkjv@13:5; strkjv@15:36-39|). {If he come unto you, receive him} (\ean elthi pros humas dexasthe auton\). This third class conditional sentence (\ean\ and second aorist active subjunctive of \erchomai\) gives the substance of the commands (\entolas\) about Mark already sent, how we do not know. But Paul's commendation of Mark is hearty and unreserved as he does later in strkjv@2Timothy:4:11|. The verb \dechomai\ is the usual one for hospitable reception (Matthew:10:14; strkjv@John:4:45|) like \prosdechomai\ (Phillipians:2:29|) and \hupodechomai\ (Luke:10:38|).

rwp@Colossians:4:11 @{Jesus which is called Justus} (\Isous ho legomenos Ioustos\). Another illustration of the frequency of the name Jesus (Joshua). The surname Justus is the Latin _Justus_ for the Greek \Dikaios\ and the Hebrew _Zadok_ and very common as a surname among the Jews. The name appears for two others in the N.T. (Acts:1:23; strkjv@18:7|). {Who are of the circumcision} (\hoi ontes ek peritoms\). Jewish Christians certainly, but not necessarily Judaizers like those so termed in strkjv@Acts:11:3| (\hoi ek peritoms\. Cf. strkjv@Acts:35:1,5|). {These only} (\houtoi monoi\). "Of the circumcision" (Jews) he means. {A comfort unto me} (\moi pargoria\). Ethical dative of personal interest. \Pargoria\ is an old word (here only in N.T.) from \pargore\, to make an address) and means solace, relief. A medical term. Curiously enough our word paregoric comes from it (\pargorikos\).

rwp@Colossians:4:12 @{Epaphras who is one of you} (\Epaphrs ho ex humn\). See strkjv@1:7| for previous mention of this brother who had brought Paul news from Colossae. {Always striving for you} (\pantote agnizomenos huper hmn\). See strkjv@1:29| of Paul. {That ye may stand} (\hina stathte\). Final clause, first aorist passive subjunctive (according to Aleph B) rather than the usual second aorist active subjunctives (\stte\) of \histmi\ (according to A C D). {Fully assured} (\peplrophormenoi\). Perfect passive participle of \plrophore\, late compound, for which see strkjv@Luke:1:1; strkjv@Romans:14:5|.

rwp@Colossians:4:13 @{And for them in Hierapolis} (\kai tn en Hieri Polei\). The third of the three cities in the Lycus Valley which had not seen Paul's face (2:1|). It was across the valley from Laodicea. Probably Epaphras had evangelized all three cities and all were in peril from the Gnostics.

rwp@Colossians:4:14 @{Luke, the beloved physician} (\Loukas ho iatros ho agaptos\). Mentioned also in strkjv@Philemon:1:24; strkjv@2Timothy:4:11|. The author of the Gospel and the Acts. Both Mark and Luke are with Paul at this time, possibly also with copies of their Gospels with them. The article here (repeated) may mean "my beloved physician." It would seem certain that Luke looked after Paul's health and that Paul loved him. Paul was Luke's hero, but it was not a one-sided affection. It is beautiful to see preacher and physician warm friends in the community. {Demas} (\Dmas\). Just his name here (a contraction of Demetrius), but in strkjv@2Timothy:4:10| he is mentioned as one who deserted Paul.

rwp@Colossians:4:15 @{Nymphas} (\Numphan\). That is masculine, if \autou\ (his) is genuine (D E K L) after \kat' oikon\, but \Numpha\ (feminine) if \auts\ (her) is read (B 67). Aleph A C P read \autn\ (their), perhaps including \adelphous\ (brethren) and so locating this church (\ekklsia\) in Laodicea. It was not till the third century that separate buildings were used for church worship. See strkjv@Romans:16:5| for Prisca and Aquila. It is not possible to tell whether it is "her" or "his" house here.

rwp@Colossians:4:16 @{When this epistle hath been read among you} (\hotan anagnsthi par' humin h epistol\). Indefinite temporal clause with \hotan\ (\hote an\) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of \anaginsk\. The epistle was read in public to the church (Revelation:1:3|). {Cause that} (\poisate hina\). Same idiom in strkjv@John:11:37; strkjv@Revelation:13:15|. Old Greek preferred \hops\ for this idiom. See strkjv@1Thessalonians:5:27| for injunction for public reading of the Epistle. {That ye also read} (\kai humeis anagnte\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \anaginsk\, to read. {And the epistle from Laodicea} (\kai tn ek Laodikias\). The most likely meaning is that the so-called Epistle to the Ephesians was a circular letter to various churches in the province of Asia, one copy going to Laodicea and to be passed on to Colossae as the Colossian letter was to be sent on to Laodicea. This was done usually by copying and keeping the original. See strkjv@Ephesians:1:1| for further discussion of this matter.

rwp@Colossians:4:17 @{Take heed} (\blepe\). Keep an eye on. {Thou hast received in the Lord} (\parelabes en Kurii\). Second aorist active indicative of \paralamban\, the verb used by Paul of getting his message from the Lord (1Corinthians:15:3|). Clearly Archippus had a call "in the Lord" as every preacher should have. {That thou fulfil it} (\hina autn plrois\). Present active subjunctive of \plro\, "that thou keep on filling it full." It is a life-time job.

rwp@Colossians:4:18 @{Of me Paul with mine own hand} (\ti emi cheiri Paulou\). More precisely, "with the hand of me Paul." The genitive \Paulou\ is in apposition with the idea in the possessive pronoun \emi\, which is itself in the instrumental case agreeing with \cheiri\. Songs:also strkjv@2Thessalonians:3:17; strkjv@1Corinthians:16:21|. {My bonds} (\mou tn desmn\). Genitive case with \mnemoneuete\ (remember). The chain (\en halusei\ strkjv@Ephesians:6:20|) clanked afresh as Paul took the pen to sign the salutation. He was not likely to forget it himself