THAT WHICH IS JUST AND EQUAL (το δικαιον κα την ισοτητα). Paul changes from το ισον (like το δικαιον, neuter singular adjective with article for abstract idea) to the abstract substantive ισοτης, old word, in N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 8:13. If employers always did this, there would be no l... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTINUE STEADFASTLY (προσκαρτερειτε). See Mark 3:9; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:46 for this interesting word from προς and καρτερος (strong), common in the _Koine_.WATCHING (γρηγορουντες). Present active participle of γρηγορεω, late present made on perfect active stem εγρηγορα with loss of ε-, found fir... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHAL (αμα). At the same time.THAT GOD MAY OPEN (ινα ο θεος ανοιξη). Common use of ινα and the subjunctive (aorist), the sub-final use so common in the N.T. as in the _Koine_.A DOOR FOR THE WORD (θυραν του λογου). Objective genitive, a door for preaching. It is comforting to other preachers... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK (ως δε με λαλησα). Wonderful as Paul's preaching was to his hearers and seems to us, he was never satisfied with it. What preacher can be?... [ Continue Reading ]
TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT (προς τους εξω). A Pauline phrase for those outside the churches (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12). It takes wise walking to win them to Christ.REDEEMING THE TIME (τον καιρον εξαγοραζομενο). We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys... [ Continue Reading ]
SEASONED WITH SALT (αλατ ηρτυμενος). The same verb αρτυω (old verb from αιρω, to fit, to arrange) about salt in Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34. Nowhere else in the N.T. Not too much salt, not too little. Plutarch uses salt of speech, the wit which flavours speech (cf. Attic salt). Our word salacious is th... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY AFFAIRS (τα κατ' εμε παντα). "All the things relating to me." The accusative case the object of γνωρισε. The same idiom in Acts 25:14; Philippians 1:2.TYCHICUS (Τυχικος). Mentioned also in Ephesians 6:21 as the bearer of that Epistle and with the same verb γνωρισε (future active of γνωριζ... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SENT (επεμψα). Epistolary aorist active indicative of πεμπω as in Ephesians 6:22.THAT YE MAY KNOW (ινα γνωτε). Second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of γινωσκω, "that ye may come to know." This the correct text, not γνω (third singular).OUR ESTATE (τα περ ημων). "The things con... [ Continue Reading ]
TOGETHER WITH ONESIMUS (συν Ονησιμω). Co-bearer of the letter with Tychicus and praised on a par with him, runaway slave though he is.WHO IS ONE OF YOU (ος εστιν εξ υμων). Said not as a reproach to Colossae for having such a man, but as a privilege to the church in Colossae to give a proper wel... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISTARCHUS (Αρισταρχος). He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4) and started with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2; Philemon 1:24). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now.MY FELLOW-PRISONER (ο σ... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WHICH IS CALLED JUSTUS (Ιησους ο λεγομενος Ιουστος). Another illustration of the frequency of the name Jesus (Joshua). The surname Justus is the Latin _Justus_ for the Greek Δικαιος and the Hebrew _Zadok_ and very common as a surname among the Jews. The name appears for two others in the N.... [ Continue Reading ]
EPAPHRAS WHO IS ONE OF YOU (Επαφρας ο εξ υμων). See Colossians 1:7 for previous mention of this brother who had brought Paul news from Colossae.ALWAYS STRIVING FOR YOU (παντοτε αγωνιζομενος υπερ ημων). See Colossians 1:29 of Paul.THAT YE MAY STAND (ινα σταθητε). Final clause, first aorist pas... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THEM IN HIERAPOLIS (κα των εν Hιερα Πολε). The third of the three cities in the Lycus Valley which had not seen Paul's face (Colossians 2:1). It was across the valley from Laodicea. Probably Epaphras had evangelized all three cities and all were in peril from the Gnostics.... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE, THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN (Λουκας ο ιατρος ο αγαπητος). Mentioned also in Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11. The author of the Gospel and the Acts. Both Mark and Luke are with Paul at this time, possibly also with copies of their Gospels with them. The article here (repeated) may mean "my beloved p... [ Continue Reading ]
NYMPHAS (Νυμφαν). That is masculine, if αυτου (his) is genuine (D E K L) after κατ' οικον, but Νυμφα (feminine) if αυτης (her) is read (B 67). Aleph A C P read αυτων (their), perhaps including αδελφους (brethren) and so locating this church (εκκλησια) in Laodicea. It was not till the third centur... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THIS EPISTLE HATH BEEN READ AMONG YOU (οταν αναγνωσθη παρ' υμιν η επιστολη). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν (οτε αν) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of αναγινωσκω. The epistle was read in public to the church (Revelation 1:3).CAUSE THAT (ποιησατε ινα). Same idiom in John 11:... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED (βλεπε). Keep an eye on.THOU HAST RECEIVED IN THE LORD (παρελαβες εν Κυριω). Second aorist active indicative of παραλαμβανω, the verb used by Paul of getting his message from the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:3). Clearly Archippus had a call "in the Lord" as every preacher should have.THAT T... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ME PAUL WITH MINE OWN HAND (τη εμη χειρ Παυλου). More precisely, "with the hand of me Paul." The genitive Παυλου is in apposition with the idea in the possessive pronoun εμη, which is itself in the instrumental case agreeing with χειρ. So also 2 Thessalonians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 16:21.MY BONDS... [ Continue Reading ]