Colossians 4:2-18
Review
Sources
Joyful Cruciformity: Patterns and Models, Colossians 4:2-18
Praying and Witnessing with Joy, 4:2-6
The focus then in the peroratio is on getting the Colossians back on track with normal acts of devotion (as opposed to the ascetic suggestions of the errorists) and appropriate wisdom regarding behavior in relationship to outsiders. While praxis seems to be to the fore here, as 4:6 suggests, Paul also cares about witness, and so the Colossians’ understanding of the gospel so that they can answer all comers. What binds the requests for prayer for Paul and the discussion of deeds and speech together is the concern for spreading the gospel among outsiders.3
Gratitude prevents prayer from becoming just a shopping trip full of requests and pleas. Watchfulness suggests attentiveness rather than spiritual complacency.
Paul is speaking about rhetorically effective speech. “Gracious and seasoned with salt” “captures the wisdom of ancient rhetoric: ideological substance without personal style fails to convince people.” It also makes clear that Christians must engage in friendly conversation with nonbelievers and must be prepared to know how to respond to each and every outsider, regardless of their remarks or questions (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15). “This paragraph is a reminder of how much was done by word of mouth.