We turn our attention to the final greetings that mark the end of the letter (Colossians 4:7-18). At first blush these verses might strike us as being not particularly worthy of study and reflection. The main body of the letter, with its weighty exhortations and deep teaching, concluded in verse 6. These verses, by contrast, seem breezy, perfunctory and not nearly as momentous as what came before. There is a rush of names, a smattering of final instructions and then “Grace be with you.”
As we study of these final verses, however, let’s lean into the truth contained in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “all scripture is breathed out by God, and is useful…” These final twelve verses of Colossians are every bit as “breathed out by God” as the rest of it, and it remains for us to uncover their usefulness to us as followers of Jesus living in Aroostook County, ME in 2023. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about what God showed you in your own personal study of Colossians 4:7-18.