Colossians 4 (Nasb)

1 Masters, grant to your slaves (servants) justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; (for being in prison?)

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned (for preaching Christ);

4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. (This should be our motto.)

Eph 6: 14 – 19 = 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel”

5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

(Carpe Diem / Seize the Day / Redeem the time; act out by standing on a chair? Mr. Keating tells the boys they may call him "Oh Captain, my Captain", if they dare. These examples of his teachings show the boys how to think for themselves. Mr. Keating then tells the boys "Carpe Diem", which is Latin for "seize the day" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/synopsis)

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (This is a learning edge for me for those who challenge me.)

7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, Chance, an Asiatic Christian, a "faithful minister in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:21,22), who, with Trophimus, accompanied Paul on a part of his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4).

(He is alluded to also in Colossians 4:7, Titus 3:12, and 2 Timothy 4:12 as having been with Paul at Rome, whence he sent him to Ephesus, probably for the purpose of building up and encouraging the church there. www.biblemaster.com, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (EBD))

our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.

8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;

9 and with him Onesimus (Useful, a slave who, after robbing his master Philemon (q.v.) at Colosse, fled to Rome, where he was converted by the apostle Paul, who sent him back to his master with the epistle which bears his name. In it he beseeches Philemon to receive his slave as a "faithful and beloved brother." Paul offers to pay to Philemon anything his slave had taken, and to bear the wrong he had done him. He was accompanied on his return by Tychicus, the bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians (Philemon 1:16,18). The story of this fugitive Colossian slave is a remarkable evidence of the freedom of access to the prisoner which was granted to all, and "a beautiful illustration both of the character of St. Paul and the transfiguring power and righteous principles of the gospel." (EBD))

our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

10 Aristarchus (Best ruler, native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4), a companion of Paul (Acts 19:29; 27:2). He was Paul's "fellow-prisoner" at Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). (EBD))

my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

11 and also Jesus who is called Justus (A Jewish Christian, called Jesus, Paul's only fellow-labourer at Rome, where he wrote his Epistle to the Colossians (Colossians 4:11). (EPD))

these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

12 Epaphras (Lovely, spoken of by Paul (Colossians 1:7; 4:12) as "his dear fellow-servant," and "a faithful minister of Christ." He was thus evidently with him at Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. He was a distinguished disciple, and probably the founder of the Colossian church. He is also mentioned in the Epistle to (Philemon 1:23), where he is called by Paul his "fellow-prisoner."(EBD))