notes
Main point summary
Paul now gives two final instructions - to be devoted to prayer and conduct oneself with wisdom towards outsiders. While praying, the Colossians are to pray for an open door for Paul so that he can speak of the mystery of Christ and reveal it clearly. In dealing with outsiders they are to speak graciously and know how to give an answer.
Arc
editing
NT
Colossians 4:2-6
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nasb
schl
Τῇ προσευχῇ προσκαρτερεῖτε,
a Devote yourselves to prayer,
Verharret im Gebet
γρηγοροῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ
keeping alert in it
und wachet darin
ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ,
with an attitude of thanksgiving;
mit Danksagung.
series
actionmanner
προσευχόμενοι ἅμα καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν,
praying at the same time a for us as well,
Betet zugleich auch für uns,
ἵνα ὁ θεὸς ἀνοίξῃ ἡμῖν θύραν τοῦ λόγου
that God will open up to us a b door for c the word,
damit Gott uns eine Tür öffne für das Wort,
ideaexplanation
λαλῆσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
so that we may speak forth d the mystery of Christ,
um das Geheimnis Christi auszusprechen,
διʼ ὃ καὶ δέδεμαι,
for which I have also e been imprisoned;
um dessentwillen ich auch gebunden bin,
ἵνα φανερώσω αὐτὸ ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι.
that I may make it clear a in the way I ought to speak.
damit ich es so kundtue, wie ich reden soll.
actionpurpose
Ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω
1 a Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward b outsiders,
Wandelt in Weisheit gegen die, welche außerhalb der Gemeinde sind,
τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι.
2 c making the most of the opportunity.
und kaufet die Zeit aus.
ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι,
a Let your speech always be 1 with grace,
Eure Rede sei allezeit anmutig,
ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος,
as though seasoned with b salt,
mit Salz gewürzt,
comparison
εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.
so that you will know how you should c respond to each person.
damit ihr wisset, wie ihr einem jeden antworten sollt.
This is the second purpose clause of the prayer - that Paul might clearly reveal the mystery.
This is the first purpose clause of the prayer - that Paul might speak the mysteries of Christ.
The NET Bible notes state that this is probably the content of the prayer and not the purpose of the prayer.
na28
discourse
Phrase
Colossians 4:2-6
On Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer,
Verharret im Gebet
keeping alert in it
und wachet darin
with an attitude of thanksgiving;
mit Danksagung.
praying at the same time for us as well,
Betet zugleich auch für uns,
that God will open up to us a door for the word,
damit Gott uns eine Tür öffne für das Wort,
so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,
um das Geheimnis Christi auszusprechen,
for which I have also been imprisoned;
um dessentwillen ich auch gebunden bin,
that I may make it clear
damit ich es so kundtue,
in the way I ought to speak.
wie ich reden soll.
On Those outside the Church
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
Wandelt in Weisheit gegen die, welche außerhalb der Gemeinde sind, und kaufet die Zeit aus.
Let your speech always be with grace,
Eure Rede sei allezeit anmutig,
as though seasoned with salt,
mit Salz gewürzt,
so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
damit ihr wisset, wie ihr einem jeden antworten sollt.
phrasing
Phrase Greek
Colossians 4:2-6
na28
Τῇ προσευχῇ προσκαρτερεῖτε,
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Verharret im Gebet und wachet darin mit Danksagung.
γρηγοροῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ,
προσευχόμενοι ἅμα καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν,
praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
Betet zugleich auch für uns, damit Gott uns eine Tür öffne für das Wort, um das Geheimnis Christi auszusprechen, um dessentwillen ich auch gebunden bin,
ἵνα ὁ θεὸς ἀνοίξῃ ἡμῖν θύραν τοῦ λόγου λαλῆσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
διʼ ὃ καὶ δέδεμαι,
ἵνα φανερώσω αὐτὸ
that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
damit ich es so kundtue, wie ich reden soll.
ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι.
Ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι.
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
Wandelt in Weisheit gegen die, welche außerhalb der Gemeinde sind, und kaufet die Zeit aus.
ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι,
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Eure Rede sei allezeit anmutig, mit Salz gewürzt, damit ihr wisset, wie ihr einem jeden antworten sollt.
ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος,
εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.
Τῇ προσευχῇ προσκαρτερεῖτε, γρηγοροῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ,
προσευχόμενοι ἅμα καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν, ἵνα ὁ θεὸς ἀνοίξῃ ἡμῖν θύραν τοῦ λόγου λαλῆσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, διʼ ὃ καὶ δέδεμαι,
ἵνα φανερώσω αὐτὸ ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι.
Ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι.
ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.
Diagram
scripturetext
components
Colossians 4:2-6
na28
subjectverb
solid
drop
equal
revrocket
line
pred
προσκαρτερεῖτε
indirectobj
pstack
cword
Τῇ
προσευχῇ
participle
γρηγοροῦντες
vertical
prepphrase
ἐν
αὐτῇ
ἐν
εὐχαριστίᾳ
προσευχόμενοι
ἅμα
καὶ
περὶ
ἡμῶν
directobject
shelf
ὁ
θεὸς
ἀνοίξῃ
θύραν
τοῦ
λόγου
ἡμῖν
infinitive
λαλῆσαι
τὸ
μυστήριον
τοῦ
Χριστοῦ
obtuse
φανερώσω
αὐτὸ
δεῖ
quoteshelf
με
λαλῆσαι
ὡς
ἵνα
ἵνα
text
v2a
v2b
v3a
v3b
δέδεμαι
καὶ
διʼ
ὃ
v3c
smartline
dashed
free
ttext
περιπατεῖτε
Ἐν
σοφίᾳ
πρὸς
τοὺς
ἔξω
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι
τὸν
καιρὸν
v4a
v4b
ὁ
λόγος
πάντοτε
ὑμῶν
ἐν
χάριτι
ἠρτυμένος
ἅλατι
εἰδέναι
πῶς
δεῖ
ὑμᾶς
ἀποκρίνεσθαι
ἑνὶ
ἑκάστῳ
v6a
v6b
v6c
The NET Bible notes state that this is probably the content of the prayer and not the purpose of the prayer.
This is the first purpose clause of the prayer - that Paul might speak the mysteries of Christ.
This is the second purpose clause of the prayer - that Paul might clearly reveal the mystery.
diagram