Colossians 4

We are reminded again here in the last chapter that Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians while imprisoned in Rome. In verse 3 he says it is for proclaiming Christ that he is in prison. In verse 10 he mentions a fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, whom we know from Acts 29 as one of Paul's traveling companions. And finally in verse 18, Paul says, "Remember my chains."

As we study scripture, the first step is to observe the text. The goal of this step is to ask and answer the question, "What do I see?" You need to look at four things: key terms, structure of the passage, literary form, and atmosphere. We'll talk more about these four things as we go along. For this chapter though let's focus on the last one—atmosphere.

Paul wrote this letter while chained up inside a Roman prison. This would not have been like many prisons today with t.v., three meals a day, and plenty of time outside. Far more likely is that food would have been scarce, entertainment would have been nonexistent, and prisoners would never be allowed to see the light of day. This is the setting from which Paul wrote this letter.

So go back and reread this chapter, this time though, remembering Paul's chains. Transport your senses into the passage. Feel the cold, dark prison cell around you. Smell the foul stench of rot and decay. Hear the sounds of other prisoners and see them as their life is declining right in front of you.

Having regard for the atmosphere, did you feel any more weight to Paul's words? Consider verse 2: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Does that mean anything different to you, when you consider it was a man chained in prison who says to be devoted in prayer with an attitude of thanksgiving?