Colossians 4:18

4:10-18 Paul had differed with Barnabas, on the account of this Mark, yet he is not only reconciled, but recommends him to the churches; an example of a truly Christian and forgiving spirit. If men have been guilty of a fault, it must not always be remembered against them. We must forget as well as forgive. The apostle had comfort in the communion of saints and ministers. One is his fellow-servant, another his fellow-prisoner, and all his fellow-workers, working out their own salvation, and endeavouring to promote the salvation of others. The effectual, fervent prayer is the prevailing prayer, and availeth much. The smiles, flatteries, or frowns of the world, the spirit of error, or the working of self-love, leads many to a way of preaching and living which comes far short of fulfilling their ministry. But those who preach the same doctrine as Paul, and follow his example, may expect the Divine favour and blessing.

(18) The salutation by the hand of me Paul. —Comp. 2Thessalonians 3:17 , “The salutation by the hand of me Paul, which is the token in every Epistle.” This invariable autograph salutation was “Grace be with you” in various forms, from the brevity of the text here to the fulness of 2Corinthians 1:2 , which has become the universal Christian blessing. In different epistles it is associated with different phrases of blessing; or charge. Thus we read in 1Corinthians 16:22 , “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema.” In the Epistle to the Galatians the autograph conclusion is expanded into a long postscript ( Galatians 6:11-18 ). This may have been the case in the cognate conclusion (2 Corinthians 10-13) of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, possibly from the words, “Now I Paul myself,” &c. Here there is the simple and touching addition— Remember my bonds.—In what spirit they were to be remembered we may gather from Ephesians 3:13; Ephesians 6:20; Philippians 1:13; Philippians 2:17. St. Paul evidently does not disdain to use his captivity as an appeal for sympathy (see Philemon 1:9); but mainly he dwells on it as a “glory” both to himself and to his converts. In both these different aspects it may be that he regarded it himself, according as he looked upon it “after the flesh” in the natural feeling of humanity, or “after the spirit,” in the higher power of the grace of God.

18. Paul's autograph salutation (so 1Co 16:21; 2Th 3:17), attesting that the preceding letter, though written by an amanuensis, is from himself. Remember my bonds—Already in this chapter he had mentioned his "bonds" (Col 4:3), and again Col 4:10, an incentive why they should love and pray (Col 4:3) for him; and still more, that they should, in reverential obedience to his monitions in this Epistle, shrink from the false teaching herein stigmatized, remembering what a conflict (Col 2:1) he had in their behalf amidst his bonds. "When we read of his chains, we should not forget that they moved over the paper as he wrote; his [right] hand was chained to the [left hand of the] soldier who kept him" [Alford]. Grace be with you—Greek, "THE grace" which every Christian enjoys in some degree, and which flows from God in Christ by the Holy Ghost (Tit 3:15; Heb 13:25)

The salutation by the hand of me Paul - Probably the rest of the Epistle was written by an amanuensis. As was his custom, Paul affixed his own hand to it in the form of a salutation; compare the 1 Corinthians 16:21 note; 2 Thessalonians 3:17 note. Remember my bonds - Also evidently written by his own hand, to make the injunction more impressive; compare the notes at Hebrews 13:3. The meaning is, that they should not forget him in his confinement. They should remember that he was suffering on their account (Notes, Colossians 1:24), and that he was entitled to every expression of sympathy and love. Grace be with you - Notes, Romans 16:20. The subscription to this Epistle is undoubtedly correct. See the Introduction.

Colossians 4:18 . τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ : the rest of the letter would be written by an amanuensis. As he writes, his chain, fastened on his left hand, would impress itself on his notice. Hence the touching request “Remember my bonds,” which may bear the special sense “remember in your prayers”.— ἡ χάρις μεθʼ ὑμῶν : so without any defining addition in Ephesians , 1 and 2 Tim. It is not so in the earlier letters, but neither is it so in Phil. (or Titus).

The salutation by the hand of me Paul: the apostle having them on his heart, and here (as elsewhere) likely having used an amanuensis to pen the body of his Epistle, to prevent fraud and forgery he doth subscribe his salutation and apostolical benediction with his own hand, which was well known, Romans 16:22 1 Corinthians 16:21 Galatians 6:11 2 Thessalonians 2:2 3:17 Philemon 1:19 . Remember my bonds; importuning them to be very mindful of his imprisonment in their prayers, Colossians 4:3 Hebrews 13:3 , imitating his constancy and patience if called to suffer; see Philippians 1:14 ; his sufferings being an excellent seal to the truth of his gospel, and his ardent affection to them and other Gentiles, for whose sake he was in bonds. Grace be with you; then earnestly praying that the special grace and favour of God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ might be ever present with them: see Romans 16:24 1 Corinthians 16:23,24 Php 4:23 . In testimony of the reality of his desire, and assurance to be heard, he concludes (as elsewhere) with Amen. ( Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus. )

Verse 18. - The salutation with mine own hand - of Paul ( 2 Thessalonians 3:17, 18 ; 1 Corinthians 16:21-24 ; Galatians 6:11-18 ). So the apostle appends his authenticating signature to the letter, written, as usual, by his amanuensis, himself inscribing these last words (see parallel passages). The Epistle to Philemon he appears to have penned himself throughout ( Philemon 1:19 ). Remember my bonds ( Colossians 1:24 ; Philemon 1:9, 13 ; Ephesians 3:1, 13 ; Ephesians 4:1 ; Ephesians 6:20 ; 2 Timothy 2:9 ). This pathetic postscript is thoroughly characteristic (comp. Galatians 6:17 ). Grace be with you; literally, the grace (comp. Colossians 3:16 ). The apostle's final benediction in all his Epistles; here in its briefest form, as in 1 and 2 Timothy. In the Ephesian benediction "grace" is also used absolutely. 2 Corinthians 13:14 gives the formula in its full liturgical amplitude. Colossians 4:18

18 . Farewell 18 . The salutation by the hand of me Paul ] Here he takes the pen from the amanuensis (see Romans 16:22 ), and writes the final words in autograph.—In 2 Thessalonians 3:17 (“ so I write”) this is evidently done to warrant the authenticity of the letter. And see another reason, Philemon 1:19 . But obviously it might be done habitually at the close of Epistles, for reasons only of care and affection; they would always value “his own hand.”—The “script” of St Paul seems to have been large and laboured; see Galatians 6:11 ; where render “in what large letters I have written.” (He seems to have written that Epistle all in autograph.) Remember my bonds ] The chain would drag and rattle as he took the pen. See note on Colossians 4:3 above. Their “ remembrance ” would be shewn in love, in intercession, and above all in fidelity to the Gospel for which their Apostle rejoiced to suffer. Grace be with you ] This short benediction occurs elsewhere only at the close of 1 Tim., 2 Tim. As Lightfoot suggests, the more definite and developed phraseology, “ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christy, &c. ,” might in these later days of St Paul’s ministry “pass without saying.” On the meaning of “ grace ,” see note on Colossians 1:2 above. Amen ] The evidence for omission here is considerable. See our note on Ephesians 6:24 . The Subscription Written &c.] Lit., To the Colossians it was written from Rome, by means of Tychicus and Onesimus . So in the Textus Receptus .

Of other forms some omit “ To the Colossians ” ; some add, at the end, “ and Timotheus .” In our oldest mss. the form is the same as that of the Title (see note there): To (the) Colossians, or Colassians. The Subscriptions (to St Paul’s Epistles), in their longer form (as in the A.V.) are ascribed to Euthalius, a bishop of the fifth century, and thus to a date later than the earliest extant mss. (See Scrivener, Introd. to the Criticism of the N.T ., ed. 1883, p. 62.) The Subscription here is obviously true to fact, as are those appended to Rom., Eph., Phil., Philem., 2 Tim. Other Subscriptions are either (1 Cor., Gal., 1 Tim.) contradictory to the contents of the respective Epistles, or (Thess., Tit.) difficult to reconcile with them. In philanthropy as in science there are three stages—the prelude, the epoch, and the sequel. The prelude is a period of aspiration, and half-blind guesses. The epoch brings the expression of the truth to its highest point. In the sequel, the principle, once fixed in words, is extended and developed in practice. It would be no difficult task to apply the analogy to the influence of Christianity on slavery. As far as the Epistle to Philemon is concerned, the epoch has come. Bp Alexander, in The Speaker’s Commentary . We are all the Lord’s Onesimi. Luther.