你们做主人的,对待奴仆要公平合理,别忘了你们也有一位天上的主。

勉励祷告

你们要以感恩和警醒的心恒切祷告。 要为我们祷告,求上帝为我们打开传道的门,好传扬基督的奥秘——我就是为此而被囚禁的。 也要求上帝使我能尽自己的本分把这奥秘讲清楚。

你们要把握时机,运用智慧和非信徒交往。 谈吐要温和、风趣[a],知道该怎样回答每个人。

结语

有关我一切的事情,推基古会告诉你们。他是我亲爱的弟兄,是和我一同事奉主的忠仆。 我特意派他去见你们,好让你们知道我们的近况,并鼓励你们。 这次和他同行的还有另一位忠心的弟兄——亲爱的阿尼西谋,他是你们那里的人。他们会把这里的详细情形告诉你们。

问候

10 和我一同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,我嘱咐过你们,如果他去你们那里,你们要接待他。 11 耶数,又名犹士都,问候你们。受过割礼的犹太基督徒中,只有这三人和我一同为上帝的国工作,他们是我的安慰。 12 来自你们那里、做基督耶稣奴仆的以巴弗弟兄问候你们。他常常恳切地为你们祷告,好使你们信心坚定,生命成熟,深知上帝一切的旨意。 13 他为了你们以及老底嘉和希拉波立的弟兄姊妹而不辞劳苦,这是我可以作证的。 14 此外,亲爱的路加医生和底马也问候你们。 15 请代我问候在老底嘉的弟兄姊妹,也问候宁法姊妹和在她家里聚会的人。 16 你们当众宣读这封信后,也要交给老底嘉教会宣读,你们也要宣读老底嘉教会转给你们的信。 17 请告诉亚基布务要完成主交给他的工作。 18 我保罗亲笔问候你们。请你们不要忘记狱中的我。

愿上帝的恩典常与你们同在!

Footnotes

  1. 4:6 风趣”希腊文是“用盐调和”。

你們作主人的,要公平地對待僕人,因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。

訓勉的話

你們要恆切禱告,在禱告的時候存著感恩的心警醒; 也要為我們禱告,求 神為我們開傳道的門,宣講基督的奧祕(我就是為了這個緣故被捆鎖), 使我照著我所應當說的,把這奧祕顯明出來。 你們要把握時機,用智慧與外人來往。 你們的話要常常溫和,好像是用鹽調和的,使你們知道應當怎樣回答各人。

問候的話

我的一切景況,推基古會告訴你們。他是我所愛的弟兄,是忠心的僕役,也是在主裡同作僕人的。 我派他到你們那裡去,使你們知道我們的景況,並且安慰你們的心。 他是跟歐尼西慕一同去的。歐尼西慕是忠心的親愛的弟兄,是你們那裡的人。他們會把這裡的一切告訴你們。

10 與我一同坐監的亞里達古,和巴拿巴的表弟馬可,問候你們。(關於馬可,你們已經受了吩咐:他若到你們那裡,你們要接待他。) 11 別號猶士都的耶數,也問候你們。在受過割禮的人中,只有這幾位是為 神的國與我同工的,他們也成了我的安慰。 12 以巴弗問候你們,他是你們那裡的人,是基督耶穌的僕人;他禱告的時候,常常竭力為你們祈求,好使你們在 神的一切旨意中完全站穩,滿有堅定的信念。 13 我可以為他作證,他為了你們和在老底嘉、希拉波立的人,多受勞苦。 14 親愛的路加醫生和底馬問候你們。 15 請問候在老底嘉的弟兄和寧法,以及在她家裡的教會。 16 這封信你們宣讀了以後,也要交給老底嘉的教會宣讀;你們也要讀老底嘉的那封信。 17 你們要對亞基布說:“你要留心在主裡領受的職分,好把它完成。”

18 我保羅親筆問候你們。你們要記念我的捆鎖。願恩惠與你們同在。

Masters,(A) deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

Speaking to God and Others

Devote yourselves(B) to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door(C) to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,(D) for which I am in chains,(E) so that I may make it known as I should. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.(F) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,(G) so that you may know how you should answer each person.(H)

Final Greetings

Tychicus,(I) our dearly loved brother, faithful(J) minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[a] and so that he may encourage(K) your hearts.(L) He is coming with Onesimus,(M) a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark,(N) Barnabas’s(O) cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(P) who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling(Q) for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured[b] in everything God wills.(R) 13 For I testify about him that he works hard[c](S) for you, for those in Laodicea,(T) and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas(U) send you greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home.(V) 16 After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus,(W) “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”(X)

18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains.(Y) Grace be with you.[d](Z)

Footnotes

  1. 4:8 Other mss read that he may know how you are
  2. 4:12 Other mss read and complete
  3. 4:13 Other mss read he has a great zeal
  4. 4:18 Other mss add Amen.

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time.[a] Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Final Greetings and Benediction

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow-servant[b] in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[c] and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. 11 And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant[d] of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. 13 For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters[e] in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.[f]

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:5 Or opportunity
  2. Colossians 4:7 Gk slave
  3. Colossians 4:8 Other authorities read that I may know how you are
  4. Colossians 4:12 Gk slave
  5. Colossians 4:15 Gk brothers
  6. Colossians 4:18 Other ancient authorities add Amen