Colossians 4
4
1 Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
Further Advice for the Christian Life
2Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, 3praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner#Literally “I have been bound”, 4so that I may reveal#Or “may make it clear” it, as it is necessary for me to speak. 5Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time. 6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.
Exhortations Regarding Fellow Workers
7Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to you all my circumstances#Literally “the things according to me”, 8whom I have sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know our circumstances#Literally “the things concerning us” and he may encourage your hearts, 9together with Onesimus, my faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all the circumstances#Literally “the things” here.
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions—if he should come to you, welcome him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, greets you, a slave of Christ#Some manuscripts have “of Christ Jesus” always struggling on behalf of you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured#Or “and filled” in all the will of God. 13For I testify to him that he is working hard#Literally “he has much labor” on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the physician, our dear friend, greets you, as does Demas. 15Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nympha and the church in her#Some manuscripts, including the majority of Byzantine minuscules, read the masculine form of the pronoun here (“his”), understanding the form of the name “Nympha” earlier in the verse to be masculine house. 16And whenever this letter is read among you, see to it#Literally “cause” that it is read also among the Laodicean church, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17And tell Archippus, “Direct your attention to the ministry that you received in the Lord, in order that you may complete it.”
Final Greeting and Benediction
18The greeting is by my hand, Paul’s. Remember my imprisonment#Literally “bonds”. Grace be with you.
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Colossians 4
4
1Masters, give what is good and fair to your servants. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
Some Things to Do
2Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful. 3Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. 4Pray that I will say what is necessary to make this truth clear to everyone.
5Be wise in the way you act with those who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. 6When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.
News About Those With Paul
7Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful helper and he serves the Lord with me. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. 8That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are, and I am sending him to encourage you. 9I am sending him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother from your group. They will tell you everything that has happened here.
10Aristarchus, the one here in prison with me, sends you his greetings. Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also sends his greetings. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11And greetings from Jesus, the one who is also called Justus. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for God’s kingdom. They have been a great comfort to me.
12Epaphras, another servant of Jesus Christ from your group, sends his greetings. He constantly struggles for you in prayer. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything that God wants for you. 13I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Greetings also from Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor.
15Give our greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Greetings also to Nympha and to the church that meets in her house. 16After this letter is read to you, be sure it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to them. 17Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
18Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. Remember me in prison. God’s grace be with you.
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