Colossians Chapter IVa

Translation: The Orthodox New Testament, Vol. 2, Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista CO)

4:5Be walking in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be with grace, which hath been seasoned with salt, to know how ye ought to answer each one.

1. Do we have enemies?

Chrysostom: “What Christ said to His disciples, Paul also now advises. And what did Christ say? "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matt. x. 16.) That is, be upon your guard, giving them no handle against you. For therefore it is added, ‘towards them that are outside,’ in order that we may know that against our own members we have no need of so much caution as against those outside. For where brethren are, there are both many allowances and kindnesses. There is indeed need of caution even here; but much more outside, for it is not the same to be amongst enemies and foes, and amongst friends.”

2. Redeeming the time = “that is, the present time is short. (Chrysostom)”

3. Conversations between believers and non-believers

"… may this graciousness not lapse into apathy. For it is possible to be simply agreeable, it is possible also to be so with due decorum. "That ye may know how ye ought to answer each one." So that one ought not to discourse alike to all, Greeks, I mean, and Brethren. By no means, for this were the very extreme of senselessness.”

7Tychikos, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord, shall make known to you all the things concerning me, 8whom I am sending to you for this very thing, in order that he might know the things concerning you and comfort your hearts, 9with Onesimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you all the things here. 10Aristarchos, my fellow prisoner, greeteth you, and Mark (The Evagelist), the cousin of Barnabas—concerning whom ye received orders; if he should come to you, receive him—


1. Holy Tradition – oral and charismatic

Chrysostom: “Admirable! how great is the wisdom of Paul! Observe, he does not put everything into his Epistles, but only things necessary and urgent. In the first place, being desirous of not drawing them out in length; and secondly, to make his messenger more respected, by his having also somewhat to relate; thirdly, showing his own affection towards him; for he would not have entrusted these communications to him.”

Apostolic Succession

  • Then, there were things which ought not to be declared in writing.
  • "The beloved brother," … If beloved, he knew all, and he concealed nothing from him.
  • If "faithful," he will speak no falsehood
  • If "a fellow-servant," he has shared his trials, so that he has brought together from all sides the grounds of trustworthiness.

Apostles of the 70 – Feast January 4 : 1Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them forth two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. . .17And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are being made subject to us in Thy name.” [Lk. 10:1,17])

The Apostle St. Tychikos (December 8):
St. Tychikos succeeded after St. Sosthenes as bishop of Ceasarea. ( See also - Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12)

The Apostle St. Onesimus (February 15): (See also - Philemon 10)
He was the slave of Philemon who was set free. He heard the Gospel preached by Paul in Rome and was baptized. He eventually became a Bishop and succeeded Timothy as the Bishop of Ephesus. He was martyred in Rome after living a long life.

The Apostle St. Aristarchos (April 15 & Sept. 27) : (See also Acts 19:29, 20:4, 27:2; Philemon 24) He was a companion of St. Paul in his travels and became Bishop of Apamea of Syria

The Apostle Barnabas – Son of Consolation (June 11) (See also Acts 4:36, 9:27, 11-15, I Cor 9:6; Gal. 2:1, 0, 13) He had a rare gift of comforting men’s souls. Barnabas was the first to welcome Saul (St. Paul) after his conversion. He preached the Gospel with Mark and Paul first in Antioch. He was the first to preach in Rome. He suffered an was martyred on the Island of Cyprus. His relics were found and was the basis of making the Island of Cyprus an autocephalas Church.

11and Jesus, the one who is called Justos, who are of the circumcision. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who became a consolation to me.

The Apostle St. Justos (Oct 30) (See also Acts 1:23, 18:7)

12Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ, greeteth you, always exerting himself for you in the prayers, that ye might stand perfect and complete in everything willed of God.

The Apostle St. Epaphras (Jan 4) (See also Col 1:7, 4:12, Philemon 23)

13For I bear witness to him that he hath much zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the physician, the beloved one, greeteth you, and Demas.

St. Luke the Evangelist (Oct 18)

15Greet the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church in his house. 16And whenever the epistle should be read before you, cause that it also be read in the Laodicean Church, and that the epistle from Laodicea should also be read. 17And say to Archippos, “Be taking heed to the ministry which thou didst receive in the Lord, that thou be fulfilling it.” 18The greeting of Paul by mine own hand. Be remembering my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. [Col. 4:5-18]