Charles Ellicott Commentary Colossians 4

Compare the almost exact parallel in Ephesians 6:18-20, and see Notes there.

A door of utterance.—Compare a similar phrase in 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12. There, however, the opened door is the door of external opportunity; here the “door of utterance” is the removal of all internal impediments to preaching.

Walk in wisdom . . . redeeming the time.—In the parallel passage (Ephesians 5:15) we have walk strictly, not as fools, but as wise, and the limitation towards them that are without is omitted, although it is added that the days are evil. The context, as will be seen by reference, is different, and the idea also somewhat different. There the “strictness” and “wisdom” are to guard against excess or recklessness within; here the “wisdom” is to watch against external dangers and make full use of external opportunities.

Seasoned with salt. It seems impossible not to trace here a reference to our Lord's words in Mark 9:50, Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves. There the salt is spoken of as the preservative from corruption, and the warning against “corrupt” words in Ephesians 4:29 has been thought to point in the same direction.

But the context certainly appears to suggest that the use of the salt is to teach “how to answer every man,” and that this answer (like the “reason,” or defence, of 1 Peter 3:15) is to be given to “those without.” Probably, therefore, the “seasoning with salt” is to provide against insipidity (thus, to some extent, in accordance with the classic usage of the word). Their speech is to be primarily “with grace,” kindled by the true life of Christian grace in it; secondarily, however, it is to have good sense and point, so as to be effective for the inquirer or against the scoffer.

These verses present an almost exact verbal coincidence with Ephesians 6:21-22, on which see Notes. In the following verses, however, the particularity and detail of this Epistle stand in marked contrast with the brief generality of Ephesians 6:23-24. Remembering that the two Epistles were sent at the same time, and that Ephesus was a church far better known than Colossæ, we cannot help but regard this as supporting the idea of an encyclical character in our Epistle to the Ephesians.

Onesimus.—See Philemon 1:10-17. The emphatic reference to him as being faithful and beloved like Tychicus, and one of you like Epaphras, is a remarkable commentary on St. Paul’s exhortation as to slaves and masters in the preceding chapter.