1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
상전들아 의와 공평을 종들에게 베풀찌니 너희에게도 하늘에 상전이 계심을 알찌어다
This verse finishes off the ‘practical instruction’ to those who are in God and Christ, who are to recognise God’s character wanting to come out of them. Our God is right and fair surely and had no favouritism over any of us. He treated us with the same abundance of giving himself in his favourite Son.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
기도를 항상 힘쓰고 기도에 감사함으로 깨어 있으라
‘To persist in adherence to, to spend much time together, to be faithful’ – these are some of the definition of the Greek verb ‘devote’ (NIV, NASB) or ‘continue’ (ESV) that describe what to do with prayer. How many hours would qualify to be categorised as ‘persisting’ or ‘spending much time’? But what about ‘being faithful’? Is that something you can measure? The beauty of Biblical writing is that often the answer is with in the verse itself. To devote to or to continue in to prayer is not a matter of hours but is to do with attitude: that you are watchful and thankful (of Christ’s work among us). When you remember Christ’s fasting and prayer was to release the oppressed (Luke 9:29, Isa 58:6); our fasting and prayer should be that of appreciating it, seeing it happen, witnessing it watchfully and giving thanks for it. This alertness and thankfulness in the attitude of prayer and carrying into your day is much harder than literally giving many continuous hours to a ‘prayer’.
3-4 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
또한 우리를 위하여 기도하되 하나님이 전도할 문을 우리에게 열어 주사 그리스도의 비밀을 말하게 하시기를 구하라 내가 이것을 인하여 매임을 당하였노라 그리하면 내가 마땅히 할 말로써 이 비밀을 나타내리라
This content of prayer confirms the manner of prayer discussed above. This is not a prayer that asks God because he might not do it. But because they know that God will do it and it is God’s promise. God chose Paul as his instrument to proclaim his name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel (Acts 9:15). So, this prayer is being watchful and thankful for the promise of God and for its fulfilment.
5 Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
외인을 향하여서는 지혜로 행하여 세월을 아끼라
Thus, to those who are not believers for the moment, we are watchful. We waste no time and make most opportunity so that not only through Paul but also through ourselves God’s character flow out and His promise be realised.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
너희 말을 항상 은혜 가운데서 소금으로 고루게 함같이 하라 그리하면 각 사람에게 마땅히 대답할 것을 알리라
So when or what to say things to your neighbour becomes less of your own brain work but His own. And He kindly calls it our knowledge of course.
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
두기고가 내 사정을 다 너희에게 알게 하리니 그는 사랑을 받는 형제요 신실한 일군이요 주 안에서 함께 된 종이라
Paul and his companion are always living study support material: They show how the triune God work with each other and with us.
8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
내가 저를 특별히 너희에게 보낸 것은 너희로 우리 사정을 알게 하고 너희 마음을 위로하게 하려 함이라
He has no intention of hiding things from us. God lets us know his plans, where abouts, comes and strengthens our mind (the whole person) in his Spirit, which means in His word (Eph 6:14).
9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
신실하고 사랑을 받는 형제 오네시모를 함께 보내노니 그는 너희에게서 온 사람이라 저희가 여기 일을 다 너희에게 알게 하리라
See how many times Paul repeats that he lets them know what’s happening. On one hand it tells us of God’s faithfulness that not only does what he says but also keeps us informed; but on the other it tells us about our frailty of not fully trusting it, doubting, and becoming uneasy. All these are known to God. But luckily He still does not leave us alone.
Lord, we can hardly ever catch up with your wisdom! It is discouraging at times, but more often it is reassuring that You are not like us. You know exactly what is going on and do not keep it a secret from us any more. We know that you love us to the end and you will not leave us alone. Let this thought and faith of yours be lived out today through my life in words, thoughts, and things I do and not do, comforting myself and others who see me. Let me present that this Great God is our Father who made me and reclaimed me, and is giving me everything that is His. Let me, despite all things, live this watchfulness and thankfulness today my Lord.