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Colossians 4:2-6, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
Colossians 4:2-6
Persistent Prayer and Gracious Speech Serve the Mystery of Christ
Stay awake in prayer; season speech toward outsiders.
They are to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, and to pray also for Paul, that God would open a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ, for which he is in chains, and that he may make it clear as he ought to speak. The mystery is still the public Christ, needing an open door and plain speech, not a private key.
Toward outsiders they are to walk in wisdom, making the best use of the time. Their speech is always to be gracious, seasoned with salt, so they may know how to answer each person. Wisdom here is timing and flavor in real conversations, not a tactic for winning a culture war.
How this should shape us
Set a watch on your mouth this week: pray for an open door to speak Christ clearly, then answer the actual person in front of you with grace instead of a rehearsed takedown.
Teach it back
Explain Colossians 4:2-6 in your own words. Include its place in Colossians, one exact textual observation, one important uncertainty or alternative, one older-English clarification, and one conclusion the unit does not permit.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Interpreters differ on how narrowly verses 5-6 concern evangelism rather than general public conduct and on the precise salt metaphor. The unit clearly joins prayer, clarity, wisdom, grace, and attention to each person.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording, paragraph data, and supplied-word markup for Colossians 4:2-6.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Colossians 4:2-6; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the shared library policy.
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Official Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Col.txt, Colossians 4:2-6.
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes; contextual meaning remains controlled by the unit.
STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, Colossians 4:2-6.
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
NET Bible official Colossians chapter 4, translator, study, and textual notes attached to Colossians 4:2-6.
Supports: A current pro-Pauline commentary check on literary flow, theology, pastoral purpose, and major interpretations.
Alistair I. Wilson, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “Colossians,” TGC Ethical Instructions 4:2-6.
Supports: A modern historical-critical and Jewish-context check on authorship, setting, calendar, ethics, slavery, and textual questions.
Peter Zaas, “Colossians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 371.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording, paragraph data, and supplied-word markup for Colossians 4:2-6.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Colossians 4:2-6; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the shared library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Col.txt, Colossians 4:2-6.
Open the Colossians Greek text file ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes; contextual meaning remains controlled by the unit.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, Colossians 4:2-6.
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - Colossians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible official Colossians chapter 4, translator, study, and textual notes attached to Colossians 4:2-6.
Open NET Colossians 4 notesmodern open commentary
Colossians
Alistair I. Wilson
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: A current pro-Pauline commentary check on literary flow, theology, pastoral purpose, and major interpretations.
Exact location: Alistair I. Wilson, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “Colossians,” TGC Ethical Instructions 4:2-6.
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
Colossians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Peter Zaas; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: A modern historical-critical and Jewish-context check on authorship, setting, calendar, ethics, slavery, and textual questions.
Exact location: Peter Zaas, “Colossians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 371.
Open source ↗