你们做主人的,要公正、公平地对待奴仆,因为你们知道,你们也有一位主人在天上。

信末的教导

你们要恒切祷告,祷告中要保持警醒,怀着感谢的心。 同时也要为我们祷告:愿神给我们开福音[a]的门,使我们能传讲基督的奥秘——我也是为此被捆锁的, 愿我能照着所当说的,把这奥秘显明出来。 你们要把握机会[b],对外面的人靠智慧行事。 你们的话语总要带着恩惠,像用盐调和过的,好使你们知道该怎样回答每一个人。

最后的问安

有关我的一切事,特其库斯会让你们明白。他是蒙爱的弟兄、忠心的仆人[c],是在主里同做奴仆[d]的。 我正是为此派他到你们那里去,好让你们知道有关我们的事[e],并且让他安慰你们的心。 与他一起去的奥尼斯莫,是一位忠心、蒙爱的弟兄,是你们那里的人。他们会把这里的一切情况都让你们明白。

10 与我一起坐牢的亚里达古问候你们。巴拿巴的表弟马可也问候你们。关于马可,你们已经领受了指示:如果他到你们那里去,你们要接受他。 11 称为犹斯托耶数也问候你们。在割礼派的人[f]中,只有这几个人是为了神的国与我同工的;他们也成了我的安慰。 12 以帕弗拉问候你们;他来自你们那里,是基督耶稣的奴仆;他在祷告中,总是为你们竭力祈求[g]:愿你们成熟、站立得住,在神的一切旨意中确信不疑[h] 13 其实我可以为他见证:他为了你们和那些在劳迪西亚希拉波利斯的人,多受劳苦[i] 14 蒙爱的医生路加迪马斯问候你们。 15 请问候在劳迪西亚的弟兄们,还有宁法以及在她[j]家里的教会。 16 这封书信在你们那里宣读了以后,也一定要在劳迪西亚的教会中宣读;你们也要宣读从劳迪西亚转来的书信。 17 请你们告诉阿其波斯:“在主里所领受的服事工作,要留心把它完成。”

18 保罗亲笔问候:请你们记住我所受的捆锁。愿恩典与你们同在![k]

Footnotes

  1. 歌罗西书 4:3 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
  2. 歌罗西书 4:5 要把握机会——原文直译“要赎回时机”。
  3. 歌罗西书 4:7 仆人——或译作“执事”。
  4. 歌罗西书 4:7 奴仆——或译作“仆人”。
  5. 歌罗西书 4:8 好让你们知道有关我们的事——有古抄本作“好让他知道有关你们的事”。
  6. 歌罗西书 4:11 割礼派的人——或译作“受割礼的人”。
  7. 歌罗西书 4:12 竭力祈求——原文直译“争战”。
  8. 歌罗西书 4:12 确信不疑——有古抄本作“得以完全”。
  9. 歌罗西书 4:13 多受劳苦——有古抄本作“多有热心”。
  10. 歌罗西书 4:15 她——有古抄本作“他”。
  11. 歌罗西书 4:18 有古抄本附“阿们。”

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