Col 4:12, 14 | JFB | e4.org | 12. Christ —The oldest manuscripts add "Jesus." labouring fervently —As the Greek, is the same, translate, "striving earnestly" (see on and ), literally, " striving as in the agony of a contest. " in prayers —Translate as Greek, "in his prayers." complete —The oldest manuscripts read, "fully assured." It is translated, "fully persuaded," . In the expression "perfect," he refers to what he has already said, . "Perfect" implies the attainment of the full maturity of a Christian. BENGEL joins "in all the will of God" with "stand."

‏ Colossians 4:12

12. Christ—The oldest manuscripts add "Jesus."

labouring fervently—As the Greek, is the same, translate, "striving earnestly" (see on Col 1:29 and Col 2:1), literally, "striving as in the agony of a contest."

in prayers—Translate as Greek, "in his prayers."

complete—The oldest manuscripts read, "fully assured." It is translated, "fully persuaded," Ro 4:21; 14:5. In the expression "perfect," he refers to what he has already said, Col 1:28; 2:2; 3:14. "Perfect" implies the attainment of the full maturity of a Christian. BENGEL joins "in all the will of God" with "stand."

‏ Colossians 4:14

14. It is conjectured that Luke "the beloved physician" (the same as the Evangelist), may have first become connected with Paul in professionally attending on him in the sickness under which he labored in Phrygia and Galatia (in which latter place he was detained by sickness), in the early part of that journey wherein Luke first is found in his company (Ac 16:10; compare Note, see on Ga 4:13). Thus the allusion to his medical profession is appropriate in writing to men of Phrygia. Luke ministered to Paul in his last imprisonment (2Ti 4:11).

Demas—included among his "fellow laborers" (Phm 24), but afterwards a deserter from him through love of this world (2Ti 4:10). He alone has here no honorable or descriptive epithet attached to his name. Perhaps, already, his real character was betraying itself.