1. Masters, etc. The best texts attach this verse to the pre- ceding chapter.
Render (zrapéyecJe). The Greek implies on your part.
Equal (77 icornta). Lit., the equality. Not equality of condition, but the brotherly equality growing out of the Christ- ian relation in which there is neither bond nor free. See on Philem. 16.
510 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cz. IV,
2. Continue (spocxaprepeire). See on Acts i. 14. Compare Acts ii. 42, 46; vi. 4; Rom. xii. 12; xiii. 6; 1 Thess. v. Li. Rev., correctly, continue steadfastly.
Watching (ypyyopodvtes). See on Mark xiii. 35; 1 Pet. v. 8. In Eph. vi. 18, aypumvodvres watching is used, on which see Mark xiii. 33.
Therein (év air#). In prayer. Compare therewnto, Eph. vi. 18.
3. Door of utterance (Svpav tod Adyou). Rev., better, a door for the word. Compare 1 Cor. xvi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12; Apoe. iii. 8. See also entering m, 1 Thess. i. 9; ii. 12> Ang the parallel passage, Eph. vi. 19. There may be an allusion to a release from imprisonment.
4. That | may make it manifest (iva gavepdow). Com- pare speak boldly, Eph. vi. 20. That connects with the clause that God— Christ.
5. In wisdom (év codia). Compare Eph. v. 15, as wise.
Those that are without (tods é&w). As 1 Cor. v. 12, 13; 1 Thess. iv. 12. Compare tovs éow those within, 1 Cor. v. 12.
Redeeming the time (rov xaspov éEayopagduevot). Com- pare Eph. v. 16, and Dan. ii. 8, Sept. The word is used in the New Testament only by Paul, Gal. iii. 13; iv. 5; Eph. v. 16. The compounded preposition é€ has the meaning ow? of, as Gal. iii. 13, “‘Christ redeemed us out of the curse,” etc., and out and out, fully. So here and Eph. v. 16, buy wp. Jrev., in margin, buying up the opportunity. The favorable opportunity be- comes ours at the price of duty.
6. Seasoned with salt (ddats nptupévos). Both words only here in Paul. The metaphor is from the office of salt in ren- dering palatable. Both in Greek and Latin authors, salt was used to express the pungency and wittiness of speech. Horace speaks of having praised a poet for rubbing the city with abund- ant salt, i.e., for having wittily satirized certain parties so as to make them smart as if rubbed with salt, and so as to excite
Cuz. IV.] THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. elble
the laughter of those who are not hit (‘Satires,” i, x., 3). Lightfoot gives some interesting citations from Plutarch, in which, as here, grace and salt are combined. Thus: “ The many call salt ydpitas graces, because, mingled with most things, it makes them agreeable and pleasant to the taste.” Seasoned is, literally, prepared. It is not likely that the fact has any connection with this expression, but it is interesting to recall Herodotus’ story of a salt lake in the neighborhood of Colossae, which has been identified, and which still supplies the whole surrounding country with salt (vii., 30). The ex- hortation to well-seasoned and becoming speech is expanded in Eph. iv. 29; v. 4, in a warning against corrupt communica- tion.
7. Tychicus. Mentioned Acts xx. 4; Eph. vi. 21; 2 Tim. iv. Ae Tits 11.12.
Minister (dvdcovos). Probably to Paul himself. Compare Acts xix. 22; xx. 4. Scarcely in the official sense of deacon.
Fellow-servant (cvvdovnos). Used by Paul only here and ch. i. 7, of Epaphras. By this term he designates Tychicus as, in common with himself, a servant of Jesus Christ. Probably not with a strict, but with a guas¢ official reference.
8. | have sent. Epistolary aorist. Tychicus carried the letter.
He might know your estate (yw ta sepi tyaov). The correct reading is ywate Ta Trepi nuav ye might know the things about us, or our estate. Compare Eph. vi. 21.