William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Colossians 4:3

Our apostle having directed the Colossians to the duty of prayer in general, here he requests an interest in their prayers for himself, and all the ministers of Christ in particular.

Whence observe, 1. That the ministers of Jesus Christ are, and ought in an especial manner to be remembered in the saints' prayers.

Observe, 2. The mercies he desires may be prayed for, on his behalf, namely, utterance and boldness: Ministers depend upon God, as for other ministerial gifts, so particularly for the gift of utterance, and it is their people's duty to be earnest and instant with God for the same: And as for utterance in delivering their message, so for boldness in suffering for it, when called to it.

No prayers can be too much to strengthen the hands, and encourage the hearts of the ministers of Christ unto an holy boldness, who suffer persecution for what they preach; therefore is St. Paul so earnest here with the Colossians, as he was before with the Ephesians, Ephesians 6:18 and with the Romans, Romans 15:30 desiring them to strive together in their prayers for him:

Where, by the way, remark, That the apostle thus passionately desiring the living saints to pray for him, but never desiring once the prayers and intercessions of the saints departed, nor of the Virgin Mary, is an evidence that he approved not of their prayers, nor looked upon them as mediators and intercessors with God then, as the church of Rome does now.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Colossians 4:3

Old Testament

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