WE come now to the closing study in the letter to the Colossians. This passage consists of two parts. The first is verses 2 to 6 which consists of final instructions concerning Christian living. The second is from verse 7 to the end of the epistle, and these verses concern various arrangements concerning the activity of the wider church.

VERSES 2-6.

The first exhortation is concerning devotion to prayer. By this Paul is urging the activity and use of prayer, and seeing prayer as a privilege which demands quality time and attention. Paul indicates two important benefits of prayer. One is to keep us watchful over our Christian lives so that we may be able to resist temptation from the world and Satan, and the other to use prayer to thank God for all his blessings.

Paul asks for prayer in two ways. One is that God would open up opportunity to preach the Gospel, and the other is that when Paul does have opportunity to preach he may do it clearly. This implies that prayer for others is an important part of prayer, and that prayer for the spread of the Gospel is of first importance.

Having spoken of the need for prayer for witness to the Gospel, logically Paul proceeds to urge carefulness and wisdom in witness, that our witness may commend the Gospel and not put people off. But we must no let fear of making mistakes in witness stop us from engaging in it. We must be watching for every opportunity to witness, but seeking always to witness commendably and appropriately, Witness needs practice and instruction if we are to become able to relate to the questions other people put to us.

VERSES 7-18.

Tychicus is commended by Paul to the Colossians, and they are told that he will have up-to-date information about Paul. Information about a person is very important for prayer to be informed and directed. Tychicus was a sort of first hand prayer letter to the Colossians. Paul sent Tychicus so the the Colossians may know the truth about his condition in prison. Tychicus is described by Paul as a dear brother, and a faithful minister. Brother affirms him to be a true believer, so a member of God's family, and faithful minister affirms him to be a minister of quality and truth for the Gospel.

Onesimus is mentioned next as coming in the company of Tychicus. He is described as a brother in Christ and faithful, which indicates the trust Paul places in him. Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, who had run away and while away from Philemon had become a Christian. (See Paul's letter to Philemon).

Paul next mentions two further believers - Aristarchus who was a fellow prisoner with Paul for the sake of the Gospel; and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas - as sending greetings. We meet Mark and Barnabas in Acts as active with Paul in his missionary work. Another is mentioned as sending greetings - Jesus called Justus. It is implied that the Colossians knew these three.

Next Paul speaks of Epaphrus. He was the one who had brought the message of the Gospel to the Colossians. He is described as one of the Colossians, that is of their Church family because he was their spiritual mentor. Paul encourages the Colossains with the information that Epaphrus was praying earnestly for them that they may stand firm in their faith in Christ. This is what ministers do for their congregation. Paul assures the Colossians that Epaphrus had their interests at heart in all he was doing, and for others, no doubt, who he had been instrumental in bringing to faith i.e. Christians at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Two further Christian workers are mentioned – Luke, the doctor, who wrote Luke's Gospel and the Acts, and Demas. They also are mentioned as sending greetings. Paul then asks the Colossians to greet the Christians/brothers in Laodocia on his behalf, and a lady called Nympha who had a Christian community in her house.

Paul closes his letter by asking the Colossians to share his letter with the church in Laodicea, and seek a response from them to Paul's letter. I think this is the meaning of 'reading the letter from Laodicea'.