你們作主人的,對待奴僕要公平合理,別忘了你們也有一位天上的主。

勉勵禱告

你們要以感恩和警醒的心恆切禱告。 要為我們禱告,求上帝為我們打開傳道的門,好傳揚基督的奧祕——我就是為此而被囚禁的。 也要求上帝使我能盡自己的本分把這奧祕講清楚。

你們要把握時機,運用智慧和非信徒交往。 談吐要溫和、風趣[a],知道該怎樣回答每個人。

結語

有關我一切的事情,推基古會告訴你們。他是我親愛的弟兄,是和我一同事奉主的忠僕。 我特意派他去見你們,好讓你們知道我們的近況,並鼓勵你們。 這次和他同行的還有另一位忠心的弟兄——親愛的阿尼西謀,他是你們那裡的人。他們會把這裡的詳細情形告訴你們。

問候

10 和我一同坐牢的亞里達古問候你們,巴拿巴的表弟馬可也問候你們。關於馬可,我囑咐過你們,如果他去你們那裡,你們要接待他。 11 耶數,又名猶士都,問候你們。受過割禮的猶太基督徒中,只有這三人和我一同為上帝的國工作,他們是我的安慰。 12 來自你們那裡、作基督耶穌奴僕的以巴弗弟兄問候你們。他常常懇切地為你們禱告,好使你們信心堅定,生命成熟,深知上帝一切的旨意。 13 他為了你們以及老底嘉和希拉波立的弟兄姊妹而不辭勞苦,這是我可以作證的。 14 此外,親愛的路加醫生和底馬也問候你們。 15 請代我問候在老底嘉的弟兄姊妹,也問候寧法姊妹和在她家裡聚會的人。 16 你們當眾宣讀這封信後,也要交給老底嘉教會宣讀,你們也要宣讀老底嘉教會轉給你們的信。 17 請告訴亞基布務要完成主交給他的工作。 18 我保羅親筆問候你們。請你們不要忘記獄中的我。

願上帝的恩典常與你們同在!

Footnotes

  1. 4·6 風趣」希臘文是「用鹽調和」。

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

(B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; (D)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would (E)open to us a door for the word, to speak (F)the [a]mystery of Christ, (G)for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

(H)Walk in (I)wisdom toward those who are outside, (J)redeeming the time. Let your speech always be (K)with grace, (L)seasoned with salt, (M)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings(N)

(O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with (Q)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

10 (R)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with (S)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

12 (T)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always (U)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand (V)perfect and [c]complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great [d]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 (W)Luke the beloved physician and (X)Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and [e]Nymphas and (Y)the church that is in [f]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

16 Now when (Z)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to (AA)Archippus, “Take heed to (AB)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 (AC)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. (AD)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
  2. Colossians 4:8 NU you may know our circumstances and he may comfort
  3. Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
  4. Colossians 4:13 NU concern
  5. Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
  6. Colossians 4:15 NU her

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

Devote yourselves to prayer,(B) being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(C) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(D) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(E) Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise(F) in the way you act toward outsiders;(G) make the most of every opportunity.(H) Let your conversation be always full of grace,(I) seasoned with salt,(J) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(K)

Final Greetings

Tychicus(L) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](M) in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(N) He is coming with Onesimus,(O) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(P) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(Q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(R) the cousin of Barnabas.(S) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(T) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(U) who is one of you(V) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(W) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(X) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(Y) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(Z) the doctor, and Demas(AA) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(AB) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(AC)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(AD) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(AE) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(AF)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AG) Remember(AH) my chains.(AI) Grace be with you.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
  3. Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.