Focused Passage

Colossians 4:2-6

Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship

Paul moves from justice for masters under the Master in heaven, to devoted prayer and gospel opportunity, to wise and gracious witness toward outsiders, then to a network of faithful gospel coworkers and final exhortations that connect the Colossian church with the wider mission of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

3 as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

4 Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 2

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Classic cross-references Philippians 4:6 Classic cross-references Luke 18:1 Classic cross-references Ephesians 6:18 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 16:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Devote yourselves προσκαρτερεῖτε G4342 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to Τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular prayer προσευχῇ G4335 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular being watchful γρηγοροῦντες G1127 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] ἐν G1722 Preposition thankful εὐχαριστίᾳ G2169 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - ἐν G1722 Preposition - αὐτῇ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Revelation 3:8 Classic cross-references Ephesians 6:19 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 16:9 Classic cross-references Acts 14:27 Classic cross-references Luke 21:15 Classic cross-references

Original words

as ἅμα G260 Adverb you pray προσευχόμενοι G4336 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural also καὶ G2532 Conjunction for περὶ G4012 Preposition us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular may open ἀνοίξῃ G455 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural a door θύραν G2374 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular for the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular word λόγου G3056 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular so that we may proclaim λαλῆσαι G2980 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular mystery μυστήριον G3466 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular for δι’ G1223 Preposition which ὃ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction I am in chains δέδεμαι G1210 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Ephesians 6:20 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 4:1 Classic cross-references Colossians 4:6 Classic cross-references Philippians 1:14 Classic cross-references Proverbs 23:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

[Pray] that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction I may declare it clearly φανερώσω G5319 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular . . . αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular as ὡς G5613 Adverb I με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular should δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . λαλῆσαι G2980 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active

Verse 5

Cross-references

Ephesians 5:15 Classic cross-references Ephesians 5:16 Classic cross-references James 3:13 Classic cross-references John 9:4 Classic cross-references 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

Act περιπατεῖτε G4043 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural vvv Ἐν G1722 Preposition wisely σοφίᾳ G4678 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular toward πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural outsiders ἔξω G1854 Adverb redeeming ἐξαγοραζόμενοι G1805 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular time καιρὸν G2540 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Matthew 5:13 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:29 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 3:15 Classic cross-references Proverbs 18:21 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 10:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

[Let] your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular speech λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular always [be] πάντοτε G3842 Adverb . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition gracious χάριτι G5485 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular seasoned ἠρτυμένος G741 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular with salt ἅλατι G217 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular so that you may know εἰδέναι G1492 Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active how πῶς G4459 Adverb vvv δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to answer ἀποκρίνεσθαι G611 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive everyone ἑκάστῳ G1538 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular . . . ἑνὶ G1520 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular

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