COLOSSIANS 4:18

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.”

Forgeries are commonplace today. People forge checks to steal money. Others will forge someone’s signature to gain access to property or even a company. And even though it is not technically a forgery, the auto-pen has been used for politicians to sign documents. Someone else is signing for them, though usually this is with their permission.

This last verse of Colossians has Paul confirming his authorship of the letter. He wanted to make sure they knew it was from him and not from someone pretending to be him. Many scholars believe Paul used an amanuensis, which is someone hired to write what you dictate. Matthew Poole says, “The apostle having them on his heart, and here (as elsewhere) likely having used an amanuensis to pen the body of his Epistle, to prevent fraud and forgery he doth subscribe his salutation and apostolical benediction with his own hand, which was well known (Romans 16:22 1 Corinthians 16:21 Galatians 6:11 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 3:17 Philemon 1:19).”  

APPLICATION

How do you apply a verse like this to your own life? What can you possibly get out of this? May I stretch the truth in this verse today? I don’t mean I am going to betray the text. But I have to ask the Lord why this verse is here. I believe he wants us to be genuine in our speech. Truth telling is important. It’s so easy to lie and mislead others. But telling the truth, no matter what, can be costly. Paul knew that. He had not pulled any punches with the Colossians in this letter. He wanted them to know he had penned these words.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (ESV) How about this one? “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. I could go on and on listing verses on truth telling. In fact, do some digging yourself. The Open Bible gives a list of 100 verses on this topic:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/telling_the_truth.

Make sure people know when you speak, they can count on it being the truth. Like Paul, pull no punches, but do it with gentleness, always pointing them to Scripture. Don’t be afraid to affix your signature to anything you have said or written. That way you stand before the Lord as an approved workman too.

Lord, give me only the truth today. Let my words speak of You.

(Today is the last day in Colossians. Tomorrow, we start the book of Philippians.)