Whether you teach or work, do nothing to your own glory, but to the Lord's, giving thanks to God, who deigned to appoint his Son for the inspiring and teaching of these things. 'Women, be subject to your husbands, as it behooves in the Lord' — in those things that are fitting to the Lord. 'Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.' 'Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.' He would never exhort to a natural duty, unless they had begun to be continent, as is more fully noted to the Ephesians. 'Fathers, do not provoke your children to indignation, lest they become fainthearted.' Lest, exasperated, they become irascible, but let them learn from your example to be patient. 'Servants, obey in all things your masters:'
the masters according to the flesh. Because they serve the flesh, not the spirit. 'Not serving to the eye, as pleasing men' — when your masters see you. 'But in simplicity of heart, fearing God. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance.' He who everywhere always sees, and hates all pretense. For the human eye can be deceived, and therefore act in such a way that from the necessity of your condition you may do the will of religion, so that through your good works thanks may be rendered to the Lord, when all shall see that you have profited from the time of your becoming Christians. 'Serve the Lord Christ.' For he serves Christ himself, who for his sake serves a man.
'For he who does wrong shall receive that which he has done unjustly, and there is no respect of persons with God.' Whether the servant who has despised his master, or the master who has treated his servant unjustly — that he may be consoled, knowing that with God his wrong is not great. CHAPTER IV. 'Masters, render to your servants what is just and equitable.' Fathers you ought rather to be esteemed than masters; whence you are commonly called fathers of families. 'Knowing that you also have a Lord in heaven.' Such a Lord, then, as you wish to have toward yourselves, such be you toward your fellow-servants rather than servants. 'Be instant in prayer, watching in it.' For a negligent and drowsy petition can obtain nothing even from a man. 'In thanksgiving, praying together.'
For all the things that have been granted to you, or even in adversities, which come about by his own dispensation. For it would not be asked of him in prayer, unless it were believed to be bestowed by him — 'that a door may be opened for the word,' that is, that the beginning of faith may be granted to the hearts of the hearers. 'And for us, that God may open to us a door of the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.' What you pray for us he will accomplish for you unto doctrine. For how is the beginning of the word opened, except when the sense of the hearer is opened, so that he may believe, and, the beginning of faith being made, may receive those things which are preached and disputed for the building up of wholesome doctrine, lest through unbelief, with the heart closed, he disapprove and reject the things that are said?
'For which also I am in bonds, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.' That he himself may grant what, when, and to whom it ought reasonably to be preached, since while we preach to the ear, he meanwhile works in the heart. 'Walk in wisdom toward those who are without, redeeming the time. For the days are evil.' Out of an evil time your wisdom will make good; or even for your own peace despise something temporal, if it is necessary that it perish. 'Let your speech always be seasoned with the salt of grace' — with the reasoning of wisdom, lest our religion be esteemed folly by philosophers and Gentiles. 'That you may know how you ought to answer every man.' As Peter also.
Be always ready to give satisfaction — one way to pagans, another to Jews, another to heretics, another to philosophers, another to astrologers, and to the rest an answer must be given accordingly. 'The things that concern me, Tychicus, the most dear brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, will make known to you all.' He wishes them to be assured about him, lest they be seized by sorrow. 'Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that he may know the things that concern you, and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, the most dear and faithful brother, who is one of you' — who will make known to you all things that are done here. 'For us.' 'Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, salutes you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received commandments.'
Who is held with me in bonds, or suffers with me by the affection of charity. 'If he comes to you, receive him; and Jesus, who is called Justus. Those who are of the circumcision' — from him they had received these commandments — 'these alone are my helpers in the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me.' These alone are with me, or these alone from the circumcision are helpers in the New Testament, through which one enters into the kingdom — just as Satan is called death, because he is the cause of death. 'Epaphras salutes you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, always solicitous for you in his prayers.' He is truly a servant of Christ who is found solicitous for his body. 'That you may stand perfect and full in all the will of God.'
By his prayers he asks God that you may persevere in the will of God, and that he who began in you may himself bring it to completion. 'For I bear him witness that he has much labor for you, and for those who are at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.' Such were the disciples of the first age, and the imitators of Paul and of Christ. 'Luke, the most dear physician, salutes you, and Demas. Salute the brethren who are at Laodicea, and Nympha, and the church that is in her house. And when this epistle has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you read the one which is of the Laodiceans.' Because she had such persons in her house as the Apostle defined a church to be. 'And say to Archippus:'
'See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it. The salutation by my own hand, Paul's.' He is understood to have been a deacon, not a bishop; for a bishop would not need to be admonished in the church to keep his ministry. 'Be mindful of my bonds.' Either pray that I may be restored to you, or remember that I suffer these things for your sake, and imitate my example. 'Grace be with you. Amen.' Grace is truly with those who have remained with it, and who confess that they have received it freely.