Colossians 4.6-The Colossians Must Continue Conversing in a Gracious Manner with the Non-Believer
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday March 19, 2017
Colossians: Colossians 4:6-The Colossians Must Continue Conversing in a Gracious Manner with the Unsaved
Lesson # 110
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (NASB95)
“Your speech” is composed of the following: (1) noun logos (λόγος), “speech” (2) personal pronoun su (σύ), “your.”
The noun logos means “speech” and is used of the faithful Christians in Colossae and is a general term for the mentality of a person expressing itself in words with others.
It refers to the content of the conversations that the Colossians have with unregenerate people and denotes the manner in which they speak to the unregenerate.
The personal pronoun su is of course referring to the Colossian Christian community as a corporate unit is and is used in a distributive sense emphasizing no exceptions.
“Let be” is added by the translators because they correctly interpret Paul as employing the figure of ellipsis meaning that the third person singular present active imperative form of the verb eimi (εἰμί), “let be” is deliberately omitted by him though it is implied.
The word means “to possess a particular characteristic” and is used in relation to the way the Colossians communicate verbally with unregenerate people.
Therefore, this verb expresses the idea that Paul wants the manner in which the Colossians speak with unregenerate people “to possess the characteristic of being” gracious while being seasoned with salt.
The present imperative form of the verb eimi is a customary present imperative which has the force of something continuing.
Here the idea is that the way these faithful believers in Colossae communicate verbally with unregenerate people must continue to possess the characteristic of being gracious and seasoned with salt.
This interpretation of the present imperative is supported by Paul’s teaching in Colossians 1:3-5 and 2:5 which affirm the Colossians were already obeying the commands in this epistle and thus this command here in Colossians 4:6.
“With grace” is composed of the following: (1) preposition en (ἐν), “with” (2) noun charis (χάρις), “grace.”
The noun charis means “gracious, graciousness, grace” since the word pertains to showing kindness to someone with the implication of graciousness on the part of the one showing kindness.
It means markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse implying courtesy and kindly consideration of other people and speaks of a winning quality or attractiveness that invites a favorable reaction from a person.
This noun is the object of the preposition en, which means “with” since it functions as a marker of manner expressing the manner in which the Colossians were to continue communicating verbally with the unsaved.
Therefore, this prepositional phrase refers to the gracious manner in which each member of the Colossian Christian communicates verbally with unregenerate people.
Colossians 4:6 The content of each of your conversations must continue to possess the characteristic of always being gracious while at the same time being seasoned with salt. Consequently, each of you will know for certain the manner in which each of you must cause yourselves to respond to each person. (My translation)
Colossians 4:6 completes the body of this epistle.
It also completes a section of this epistle which began in Colossians 3:1 which presents the practical implications of the theme of this epistle which is communicated in Colossians 2:6-7.
Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as all of you accepted the teaching concerning your union and identification with the Christ, who is Jesus, who is the Lord, so all of you continue to make it your habit of living your lives in fellowship with Him. 7 Specifically, all of you are to do this by being firmly rooted, yes by all of you being built up by means of your identification with Him. Namely, by all of you being established by means of your faith just as all of you were taught while overflowing with gratitude. (My translation)
Colossians 4:6 also concludes Paul’s instructions regarding the Colossians’ conduct and conversations in relation to the unsaved.
In this verse, Paul solemnly issues each member of the Colossian Christian community another command which required that the content of each of their conversations with the unsaved continue possessing the characteristic of always being gracious while at the same time being seasoned with salt.
He then presents the result of obeying this command, namely, that each of them will know for certain the manner in which they must cause themselves to respond to each of these unsaved people.
The content of their conversations refers to not only public communication with the unsaved but also private communication with them.
It refers not only to communicating the gospel to the unsaved but also it can refer to conversations in general with regards to the details of every day life or every type of conversation they might have with the unregenerate.
By graciousness, Paul means that he wants the Colossians to reflect the grace of God in their lives when communicating with the unbeliever and also means that he wants them to show kindness to each unsaved person they have a conversation with.
He means that they must be markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse with them which implies they must be courteous with them and give them kindly consideration when they are speaking.
He means that they must possess a winning quality or attractiveness in their conversations with the unsaved so that they invite a favorable reaction from them when presenting them the gospel.
To be seasoned with salt is an idiom that means that these conversations with the unsaved must be profitable or beneficial while at the same preserved from sinfulness because they are of a godly nature.
It means that they must not sin with their words when conducting conversations with the non-Christian (Ephesians 4:25, 26, 29, 31; 5:4; Colossians 3:8-9).
It means that they must speak to them in a manner that expresses the love of God by the power of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:25, 29, 32; 5:4, 19, 20; Colossians 3:12, 13, 16, 17).
Their conversations with the non-Christian must based upon the filling of the Spirit, which means that they must influenced by the Spirit.
This is the direct result of accepting by faith the Spirit’s teaching in the gospel which results in obedience to His prohibitions and commands recorded in the Word of God and this will result in godly words.
Thus, to have their conversations with the unsaved seasoned with salt means that Paul wants their contribution to these conversations to be godly reflecting the holy standards or godly standards of the gospel.
Paul wants their conversations with the non-Christian to be consistent with their position in Christ and reflect that which they profess and the holy standards of the gospel.
They were to exemplify godliness through their conversations with the unregenerate.
Colossians 4:6 harkens the reader back to Colossians 3:17.
Colossians 3:17 Indeed, whenever any of you, at any time, should do something, whatever, anything, by means of a word or by means of an action, each of you must continue to make it your habit of doing each and every one of these things in a manner consistent with the Lord’s name, who is Jesus. Simultaneously, each of you continue to make it your habit of giving thanks to the one and only God who is the Father through Him. (Author’s translation)
Notice in this verse that Paul wants all the conversations the Colossians might be engaged in, whether amongst themselves or with those outside the Christian community, to be according to the gospel.
Their conversations with people must always reflect the holy standards of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“In a manner consistent with the Lord’s name, who is Jesus” emphasizes that Paul wants the conversations that the Colossians are engaged in with each other and with those outside the Christian community, to be godly, which would reflect the holy standards or godly standards of the gospel.
He wants their conversations to be consistent with their position in Christ and reflect that which they profess and the holy standards of the gospel.
They are to exemplify godliness in all their conversations.
Paul is emphasizing with the Colossian Christian community that everything they do in life whether its their words or actions must be done in a manner which is consistent or in conformity with the holy person of the Lord Jesus.
It also signifies that everything they do in life must be done in a manner which is consistent with or in conformity with the holy character of the Lord.
It also denotes that everything the Colossians do in life must be done in a manner consistent with or in conformity with the Lord’s work of salvation on their behalf.
It also indicates that the Colossians must do everything in life in a manner which is consistent with or in conformity with upholding and magnifying the Lord’s reputation before the human race.
Lastly, it signifies that everything they do in life must be done in a manner which is consistent with or in conformity with or in subjection to the Lord’s authority over their lives.