Col 4:2-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Col 4:2-6: 4:2-6 New Testament letters often end with an exhortation to pray, along with requests for prayer. 4:2 with an alert mind: The Greek verb behind this phrase is used in the New Testament to portray the need for Christians to be watchful in light of Christ’s return (Matt 24:42 ; 25:13 ; Mark 13:35 , 37 ; 1 Thes 5:6 ; Rev 3:3 ; 16:15 ).

Summary for Col 4:2-6: 4:2-6 ^a New Testament letters often end with an exhortation to pray, along with requests for prayer. 4:2 ^b with an alert mind: The Greek verb behind this phrase is used in the New Testament to portray the need for Christians to be watchful in light of Christ’s return (Matt 24:42 ^c; 25:13 ^d; Mark 13:35 ^e, 37 ^f; 1 Thes 5:6 ^g; Rev 3:3 ^h; 16:15 ⁱ).
4:3 ^j that God will give us many opportunities (literally that God might open for us a door): An open door is a metaphor for an opportunity to proclaim the Good News (see also Acts 14:27 ^k; 1 Cor 16:9 ^l; 2 Cor 2:12 ^m).

• his mysterious plan concerning Christ: See Col 1:26-27 ⁿ; 2:2 ^o.

• That is why I am here in chains: Paul’s dedication to preaching the Good News had led to his imprisonment (see Colossians Book Introduction, “Date and Occasion of Writing”).
4:5 ^p make the most of every opportunity (literally buy up the time): Like people who are buying up a product offered at a good price, Christians are to “buy up” every opportunity God gives them to share the Good News and to serve others.
4:6 ^q attractive (literally seasoned with salt): Salt is both a seasoning and a preservative (see Matt 5:13 ^r). Paul might be encouraging Christians to speak to unbelievers in words that are well chosen and winsome. The rabbis occasionally referred to wisdom as salt, so Paul might also be exhorting Christians to speak wisely.