Devote Yourselves to Prayer; Wise and Gracious Conduct
Colossians 4:2-6
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Col.4.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- προσευχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- προσκαρτερειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- γρηγορουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- ευχαριστια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Romans 12:12 (verbal): Uses the same verb for steadfastness in prayer (προσκαρτερεῖσθαι), urging believers to be constant in prayer—close verbal parallel.
- Ephesians 6:18 (structural): Calls for prayer 'at all times' and links it with watchfulness/alertness (γρηγορώ), echoing Colossians' 'watchful' stance in prayer.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (thematic): Combines continual joy, unceasing prayer, and thanksgiving—paralleling Colossians' emphasis on persistent, watchful prayer with gratitude.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Pairs prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, instructing believers to present requests with gratitude—reflects Colossians' 'in prayer, with thankfulness' motif.
- Colossians 1:3 (structural): Within the same letter, Paul regularly links thanksgiving with prayer for the congregation ('always giving thanks for you, praying for you'), mirroring Colossians 4:2's combined focus.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be steadfast in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
- Be steadfast in prayer, watchful and thankful.
Col.4.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- προσευχομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,pl,m
- αμα: ADV
- και: CONJ
- περι: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ινα: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ανοιξη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- θυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λογου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λαλησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μυστηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δι᾽ο: PREP
- και: CONJ
- δεδεμαι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Ephesians 6:19-20 (verbal): Paul explicitly asks for prayer that God would give him a bold opening of the mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel—very close in wording and petition to Colossians 4:3.
- Ephesians 3:3-6 (thematic): Explains the content of the 'mystery'—that Gentiles share in Christ’s promise—paralleling Colossians' reference to the revealed mystery of Christ.
- Colossians 1:27 (verbal): Same phrase and idea, 'the mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,' an internal Colossian parallel developing the meaning of the 'mystery of Christ'.
- Colossians 4:4 (structural): Immediate context: Paul follows the prayer for an open door by asking that he may 'make it manifest' and speak properly—the next verse directly parallels and completes the request in 4:3.
- Philippians 1:12-14 (thematic): Describes how Paul's imprisonment has actually advanced the gospel and emboldened others to speak—connects the motif of being 'in bonds' with the proclamation of the mystery.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ—for which I am in chains—
- Pray also for us—pray that God may open to us a door for the message, to proclaim the mystery of Christ—for which I am in chains—
Col.4.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- φανερωσω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- ως: ADV
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- λαλησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Eph.6.19 (verbal): Paul requests words/utterance so he may boldly make known the mystery of the gospel—language and plea for apt speech closely mirror Colossians 4:4.
- Col.1.27-28 (thematic): Both passages focus on proclaiming and making known the ‘mystery’—Christ in you—and on Paul’s duty to teach and present it clearly to others.
- Eph.3.3-4 (verbal): Speaks of the mystery revealed by revelation and communicated in writing so that readers may understand—parallels the aim to make the mystery manifest in speech.
- Rom.16.25 (allusion): Refers to the revelation of the mystery now made known and proclaimed; thematically parallels Paul’s concern to disclose the hidden truth of Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
- that I may make it plain, as I ought to speak.
Col.4.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εν: PREP
- σοφια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- περιπατειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εξω: ADV
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- καιρον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εξαγοραζομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Eph.5.15-16 (verbal): Uses same exhortation to 'walk wisely' and the closely parallel phrase about 'redeeming the time' (making the most of opportunities).
- Matt.10.16 (thematic): Jesus' counsel to be 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves' parallels the call to prudent, discerning conduct toward outsiders.
- 1 Pet.3.15 (thematic): Calls believers to be ready to give a defense to outsiders and to conduct themselves so their witness is effective—complements exhortation to wise behavior before non‑believers.
- 1 Cor.9.22 (thematic): Paul's strategy of adapting his behavior to reach different groups ('become all things to all people') relates to the pragmatic, opportunity‑seeking aspect of 'redeeming the time' with outsiders.
- Col.4.6 (structural): Immediate context: instructs speech to be gracious so that believers know how to answer outsiders—practical companion instruction to walking wisely toward them.
Alternative generated candidates
- Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.
- Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.
Col.4.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λογος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- παντοτε: ADV
- εν: PREP
- χαριτι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ηρτυμενος: PART,perf,pas,nom,sg,m
- ειδεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- πως: ADV
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ενι: PREP
- εκαστω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- αποκρινεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
Parallels
- Ephesians 4:29 (thematic): Both passages exhort believers to control their speech so that it is edifying and gracious rather than corrupting, emphasizing the ethical effect of words on hearers.
- 1 Peter 3:15-16 (verbal): Directly parallels the idea of being prepared to 'answer' others; also stresses the manner of the response (gentleness/respect) akin to Colossians' call for gracious, seasoned speech.
- Matthew 5:13 (allusion): Uses the salt metaphor: Colossians' 'seasoned with salt' likely alludes to Jesus' 'salt of the earth' image, invoking salt's preserving/seasoning role for Christian witness and speech.
- Titus 2:7-8 (verbal): Commands believers to exhibit 'sound speech' and an exemplary, gracious demeanor so that opponents are silenced—parallel concern for the quality and witness of Christian speech.
- Colossians 3:16 (structural): Within the same letter, speech is framed by the word of Christ dwelling richly, leading to teaching, admonition, and thankfulness—providing the theological basis for gracious, wise answers in 4:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
- Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Devote yourselves to prayer; be steadfast and watchful in it, with thanksgiving.
At the same time pray also for us—pray that God may open to us a door for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison.
That I may make it known as I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.