Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Colossians 4:3

"withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;" — Colossians 4:3 (ASV)

Paul requests prayer for himself while being imprisoned in Rome. His concern was that he and his associates might have clear opportunities for witnessing and that Paul might make clear the great secret (“mystery”; cf. 1:26; 2:2 with Eph 1:9; 3:1) of redemption in Christ in a worthy manner. There was no selfish motive behind this prayer; Paul’s consuming interest was for the advancement of the Gospel, not for his own blessing.