Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Colossians 4:4 - 4:4
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
4. ἵνα φανερώσω αὐτὸ. Dependent on ἵνα ὁ θεὸς ἀνοίξῃ κ.τ.λ. but expressing more finally than λαλῆσαι the result of the gift of such opportunity.
Chrysostom and Bengel thinking of St Paul preaching as a prisoner join it with δέδεμαι, but this is to miss the point of the passage.
φανερόω is chosen as correlative to μυστήριον. A secret told is made known. Compare also notes at Col 1:26, Col 3:4. It thus hints at the world’s lamentable ignorance of the blessed contents of the μυστήρ. τοῦ χρ. λαλῆσαι, Col 4:3, merely expressed St Paul’s act in itself.
ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι. Probably referring to the necessity laid upon him of preaching the Gospel, 1Co 9:16. He felt that this commission could not be carried out properly so long as he was in prison. In || Eph 6:20 the reference is apparently to his freedom of speech, and perhaps his use of right arguments, whether he was in prison or not.