«　WEEK 9　DAY 1　»

　　Col. 4:15-16 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nymphas and the church, which is in his house. And when this letter is read among you, cause that it be read in the church of the Laodiceans also, and that you also read the one from Laodicea.

　　If we consider Colossians 4:7-17 in the light of the whole Epistle, we shall realize that this passage is a practical application of what Paul covers in this book….In 3:11 we are told that in the new man “there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.” In 4:7-17 we have a practical illustration of the revelation of the new man given in 3:10 and 11. In 4:7-17 different kinds of people are pointed out: Jews, Greeks, circumcision, uncircumcision, slaves, and masters. In verse 11 Paul refers to those who are of the circumcision. Onesimus, who had become a “faithful and beloved brother” (v. 9), was a slave belonging to Philemon, who was the father of Archippus (Philem. 10-13, 1-2). Archippus, therefore, was a master. Hence, Paul's purpose in these verses is to present an illustration of the living of the new man. (Life-study of Colossians, p. 258)

　　This Epistle to the Colossians was sent from Rome to Colossae…. In the geographical region between Rome and Colossae were many different kinds of people. However, in this region near the Mediterranean, the new man had come into being and was living in a practical way. Although travel was not convenient, there was considerable traffic among the churches. There is a lesson for us here. Although we enjoy all the modern conveniences and means of transportation, there may not be as much traffic among the churches today as there was at the time of Paul. Furthermore, I have to admit that I have never composed a letter containing as many personal greetings as there are in the book of Colossians. Think of how many names are mentioned in 4:7-17: Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Barnabas, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas, Nymphas, and Archippus. Paul also refers to the brothers in Laodicea, the church in the house of Nymphas, and the church of the Laodiceans…. All these names indicate that with Paul there was a sense, a consciousness, of the new man.

　　This new man who was living on earth in a practical way was constituted of those who according to culture and social status were Greeks, Jews, circumcision, uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slaves, and free men. However, as we have pointed out, the actual constituent of the new man is Christ and Christ alone. Because Christ is the unique constituent of the new man, there should be no differences among the believers who are part of this new man.

　　Furthermore, there should be no differences among the churches….This is proved by Paul's word regarding the reading of letters [4:16]… What Paul wrote to the Colossians was also for the Laodiceans, and what he wrote to the Laodiceans was for the Colossians. What fellowship, oneness, harmony, and intimate contact this implies!

　　It is shameful for the church in any locality to isolate itself from other churches. How wrong it is for us to have the attitude of standing apart from other local churches, fearing that others may interfere with our affairs or otherwise trouble us….Any church which holds such an attitude has a consciousness only of itself, not of the totality of the new man. Those who insist on this attitude cause the new man to be fragmented, to be broken into pieces. Nevertheless, many churches and many individual believers as well have the attitude that they will leave others alone if others in turn will leave them alone….Those who have this attitude lack the sense, the consciousness, of the one new man. Praise the Lord for the portrait of the living of the new man in these verses! (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 258-261)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msg. 31; CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, “Elders' Training, Book 10: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (2),” ch. 10