4:6a

Let your speech: In your language you may need to translate the word speech as a sentence. For example:

When you talk ⌊to/with unbelievers⌋

always be gracious: It is difficult to know exactly what Paul meant when he said that “conversation” should be always be gracious. Most English versions use words like “kind, pleasant.” SSA suggests words like “courteous, wise, thoughtful.” See also meaning 3 of “grace” in the glossary.

4:6b

seasoned with salt: This figure of speech is even more difficult to understand than “full of grace” in 4:6a. Paul was probably thinking about the manner in which believers should speak to unbelievers when sharing their faith. Conversation that is seasoned with salt is perhaps lively, witty speech. You probably should not keep this figure in your translation. Here are some ways to translate the meaning without the figure of speech:

interesting (Good News Translation)
-or-
effective (New Living Translation (2004))

4:6c

so that you may know how to answer everyone: This is the result of 4:6a–b. Paul was saying that if the Colossians were wise in the way they behaved towards unbelievers, and if when they spoke to them they were polite and said things to interest them, the result would be that they would know how to answer everyone.

how to answer everyone: That is, “you will know how to answer everyone ⌊who asks you about the gospel⌋.”

The emphasis here is not on what they would say when answering questions asked by unbelievers, but rather on the manner in which they were to answer, that is, that they would know the best way to answer.

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