6:20
Paul wrote this letter from prison, and describes himself here as an “ambassador in chains”. He prays that he might declare the gospel fearlessly. As Paul had been doing this, and suffering much, for many years one might think that he knows how to do this stuff, but with anything we do we are dependent upon the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit if we are to be effective. In any area where we have been successful we need to beware that we do not start becoming self-confident, rather than God-confident.
6:21,22
The general view is that the letter was a circular letter, intended for several churches in the region. However, Paul still wanted them to know how he was doing. While Paul was imprisoned, he still had means of contact with the outside world. The conditions were far worse than in our prisons today, but there were also key differences as well. In Acts we see one or two instances where this was so, eg in Acts 28 and his Roman imprisonment. Likewise, slavery was very different from our vision of what it was like.
6:23,24
Paul closes with a greeting to all of them. The letter opened with grace and peace, and closes with grace and peace and love.
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