Colossians 4:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let us therefore put aside all pride and crush arrogance within ourselves. Paul, who is worth the whole world and thousands of heavens, calls himself a servant. Will you think highly of yourself?

He who ordered everything and acted as he wished, who has privileges in the kingdom of heaven, who was crowned, and who ascended to the third heaven, calls slaves brethren and fellow servants.

Where is foolish pride? Where is arrogance? See how worthy of trust Onesimus was, that this too was entrusted to him.

For he says, “that he may know what concerns us and comfort your hearts.” Since they knew that Onesimus was a slave, they probably would have been grieved if one who had been a slave yesterday and the day before were suddenly deemed capable of comforting and teaching a whole Church.

Therefore the Apostle said that Tychicus alone was sent for this. But he found it fitting for both to report about the Apostle, thereby honoring Onesimus and not offending the Colossians.

Then come instructions and directives. The Epistle to the Colossians is to be read in the Church of Laodicea, and the one from Laodicea is to be read by the Colossians.

Also, an apostolic reminder is to be conveyed to Archippus, head of the Colossian church after Epaphras, concerning zealous fulfillment of pastoral duties (Col 4:16–17).

Finally, there follows the concluding postscript in the Apostle Paul’s own hand: “Remember my bonds. Grace be with you all. Amen.”

Onesimus could also have been sufficiently initiated into these, since he had formerly been the servant of Philemon, was converted by Paul, and was sent by him back to his master.

He had fled from that master, and now he had to present to him a special letter from Paul, the Epistle to Philemon.

“See Paul’s prudence,” says St. John Chrysostom. “He does not put everything into his Epistles, but only what is necessary and urgently needed.

“He does this, first, because he did not want to make them too long. Second, he wished to give greater honor to the person departing with the letter, so that he would have something to tell.

“Third, he wished to show his own disposition toward him, since otherwise he would not have entrusted him in this way. Finally, there was something that did not need to be set forth in writing.”

“Here the Apostle shows strong love. It was for precisely such motives that he sent Tychicus to them.”

Bishop Theophan adds to this: “We must think that the words, ‘that he may know what concerns you,’ in the Apostle’s mouth have the closest relation to the content of the Epistle.

“For the Apostle, outward life is not the chief matter, but how the work of salvation is proceeding. He wished to stir up their attention and zeal, so that they would look carefully to see whether everything was in order and correct what required correction.

“Perhaps the Colossians also had some troubles that required consolation, but not so great that they had to be mentioned separately in the Epistle. It was enough to give Tychicus instructions about them.

“And with what joy the Colossians must have received this messenger! This was all the more so because the news contained nothing extremely grievous.

“The bonds, terrifying in themselves, had been lightened for the Apostle by certain concessions, by which he could receive whom he wished and write to whom he wished.”

“One cannot fail to see the Apostle’s wisdom also in this,” says blessed Theodoret, “that he left consolation to Tychicus alone.

“For they knew that Onesimus was a slave, and likely would have been grieved if yesterday’s slave were suddenly deemed capable of comforting and teaching a whole Church.”

“Who is one of you” is not a reproach. On the contrary, the Apostle “added this in praise of the city, so that they would not only not be ashamed, but would count it an honor” (St. Chrysostom).

In what sense? You Colossians are so good that even your servants willingly receive the Gospel and show themselves capable of understanding its power. Such was this Onesimus, who is one of you.

“They will tell you everything that is here,” that is, “about my bonds and everything else that keeps me here. If this were not so, I would have come to you myself” (blessed Theophylact).

“One cannot fail to see the Apostle’s wisdom in the fact that he entrusted both of them to report about him, but left consolation to Tychicus alone.

“Since they knew that Onesimus was a slave, they probably would have been grieved if one who had been a slave yesterday and the day before were suddenly deemed capable of comforting and teaching a whole Church.

“Therefore the Apostle said that Tychicus alone was sent for this. But he found it fitting for both to report about the Apostle, thereby honoring Onesimus and not offending the Colossians” (blessed Theodoret).