Colossians 4:3
in Colossians 4as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;
KJV
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
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This verse in Colossians 4
Commentary
13 notes on this verseFor that the knowledge does not appertain to all, he expressly adds: "Being knit together in love, and unto all the riches of the full assurance of knowledge, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God in Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge." "Continue in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving." And thanksgiving has place not for the soul and spiritual blessings alone, but also for the body, and for the good things of the body.
This site's exposition
Devote yourselves to prayer
on Colossians 4:2-4
The command Devote yourselves to prayer is the word for steadfast persistence, and being watchful and thankful keeps prayer awake and grateful at once. Paul asks for himself a door for the word, an opening for the message, so that he may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. He asks prayer for the manner as well as the opportunity, that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
This site's exposition
open to us a door for the word
Clarke traces the open door through Acts 14:27 and 1 Corinthians 16:9, a door for the word being time and freedom to proclaim it. Augustine cites the request to show that the servants of the church ask its prayers. Chrysostom calls the request lowly.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Augustine of HippoTen Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 1 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
This whoso hath held fast, hath made no heresy; this whoso hath held fast, hath made no schism. For whence came schisms? When men say, "we" are righteous, when men say, "we" sanctify the unclean, "we" justify the ungodly; "we" ask, "we" obtain. But what saith John? "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." But some man will say: then do the saints not ask for us? Then do bishops and rulers not ask for the people? Yea, but mark the Scriptures, and see that rulers also commend themselves to the prayers of the people. Thus the apostle saith to the congregation, "Praying withal for us also." The apostle prayeth for the people, the people prayeth for the apostle. We pray for you, brethren: but do ye also pray for us. Let all the members pray one for another, let the Head intercede for all.
See his lowlymindedness; he sets himself after them. "That God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ." He means an entrance, and boldness in speaking. Wonderful! The great athlete said not "that I may be freed from my bonds," but being in bonds he exhorted others; and exhorted them for a great object, that himself might get boldness in speaking. Both the two are great, both the quality of the person, and of the thing. Wonderful! how great is the dignity! "The mystery," he saith, "of Christ." He shows that nothing was more dearly desired by him than this, to speak. "For which I am also in bonds; that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." He means with much boldness of speech, and withholding nothing. His bonds display, not obscure him. With much boldness he means. Tell me, art thou in bonds, and dost thou exhort others? Yea, my bonds give me the greater boldness; but I pray for God's furtherance, for I have heard the voice of Christ saying, "When they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak." (Matt. x. 19.) And see, how he has expressed himself in metaphor, "that God may open to us a door for the word"; (see, how unassuming he is; even in his bonds, how he expresses himself;) that is, that He would soften their hearts. Still he said not so; but, "that He would give us boldness"; out of lowlymindedness he thus spoke, and that which he had, he asks to receive.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Look, what humility; even Paul himself needs their prayers.
Next, Paul asks them to pray for him, saying, and pray for us also, because subjects should pray for their prelates; for their prelates watch over them, and the welfare of the prelates affects all of their subjects: "Pray for us, that the word of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Withal, praying also for us,.... The persons to be prayed for are next directed to; and these are not only themselves, though their concern is very near and great, but others also, all the saints and people of God, yea, all men, and in particular the ministers of the Gospel.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
19 , And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that is, either the deepest doctrines of the gospel with plainness, of which Christ is the principal subject (he calls it the mystery of the gospel, Eph. vi.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That God would open to us a door of utterance - That is, give us utterance, that we "may open our mouth boldly," Eph. vi, 19, and give us an opportunity of speaking, so that none may be able to hinder.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Here it is an opportunity for preaching the word, which would be best afforded by his release from prison (1Co 16:9; Re 3:8). to speak--so that we may speak. the mystery of Christ-- (Col 1:27). for which . . . also--on account of which I am (not only "an ambassador," Eph 6:20, but) ALSO in bonds.
Praying also for us - Let the success and spread of the Gospel be ever dear to you; and neglect not to pray fervently to God that it may have free course, run, and be glorified. A door of utterance - Θυραν του λογου· The word θυρα, which commonly signifies a door, or such like entrance into a house or passage through a wall, is often used metaphorically for an entrance to any business, occasion or opportunity to commence or perform any particular work. So in Act 14:27: The Door of faith is opened to the Gentiles; i.e. there is now an opportunity of preaching the Gospel to the nations of the earth. 1Co 16:9: A great and effectual Door is opened unto me; i.e. I have now a glorious opportunity of preaching the truth to the people of Ephesus. 2Co 2:12: When I came to Troas - a Door was opened unto me; I had a fine opportunity of preaching Christ crucified at that place. So, here, the θυρατου λογου, which we translate door of utterance, signifies an occasion, opportunity, or entrance, for the doctrine of the Gospel. The same metaphor is used by the best Latin writers. Cicero, xiii. Ep. 10: Amiciliae fores aperiuntur; the Doors of friendship are opened - there is now an opportunity of reconciliation. And Ovid, Amor. lib. iii., Eleg. xii. ver. 12: - Janua per nostras est adaperta manus. “The gate is opened by our hands.” Of this use of the word among the Greek writers Schleusner gives several examples. See also Rev 3:8, where the word is used in the same sense. To multiply examples would be needless; the apostle excites them to pray, not that a door of utterance, i.e. […]
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Withal - With all the supplications which you offer for other persons and things; or at the same time that you pray for them. Praying also for us - Notes, Eph 6:19-20; compare 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19; Heb 13:18-19. That God would open to us a door of utterance - To preach the gospel. He earnestly desired to have liberty to preach the gospel, and asked them to pray that this might be restored to him; see the notes at Eph 6:
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| προσευχόμενοι | proseuchomenoi | praying | G4336 → | 85 times |
| ἅμα | hama | at the same time | G260 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| περὶ | peri | for | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἀνοίξῃ | anoixe | may open | G455 → | |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | to us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| θύραν | thuran | a door | G2374 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | for the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγου | logou | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| λαλῆσαι | lalesai | to declare | G2980 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μυστήριον | musterion | mystery | G3466 → | 27 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | of Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | on account of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὃ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δέδεμαι, | dedemai | I have been bound, | G1210 → |
προσευχόμενοιpraying
proseuchomenoiG4336 →85 times
ἅμαat the same time
hamaG260 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
περὶfor
periG4012 →332 times
ἡμῶνus
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἀνοίξῃmay open
anoixeG455 →
ἡμῖνto us
heminG3165 →1936 times
θύρανa door
thuranG2374 →
τοῦfor the
touG3588 →19766 times
λόγουword
logouG3056 →329 times
λαλῆσαιto declare
lalesaiG2980 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
μυστήριονmystery
musterionG3466 →27 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦ,of Christ,
christouG5547 →523 times
δι᾽on account of
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὃwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δέδεμαι,I have been bound,
dedemaiG1210 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 14:27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
- Acts 15:12
The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
Through
Colossians 1:26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
it leads to
- Luke 8:10
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing,…
- Romans 16:25–26
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
- Ephesians 3:3–10
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7
No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
- Mark 4:11
He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
- Luke 8:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About Colossians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 1; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.