Kehillah in Colossae 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 Adonim, treat your avadim in a manner that is yashar and even-handed, with the da’as that you also have an Adon in Shomayim. [Lv 25:43,53]
2 Persevere in your tefillos, keeping watch while davening with todot (thanksgiving),
3 Davening together also concerning us, that G-d may open for us a delet for the Besuras HaGeulah, to speak the raz of Moshiach, on account of which also I have been bound with sharsherot (chains).
4 Offer this tefillah: that I make known the Besuras HaGeulah as it is necessary for me to speak.
5 Walk in chochmah toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
6 May your lashon always be with the Chen v’Chesed Hashem, seasoned with melach (salt), so that you may have da’as how it is necessary for you to answer each one.
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved Ach b’Moshiach and a keli kodesh who is ne’eman (faithful), a chaver and fellow eved in Adoneinu.
8 Tychicus I sent to you for this very reason, that you might have da’as of everything concerning us and he might impart chizzuk (strengthening, encouragement) to your levavot.
9 With Onesimus, the Ach b’Moshiach, ne’eman and a beloved chaver, one of your kehillah, Tychicus will make known the things here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you Drishat Shalom. Also Markos, cousin of Bar-Nabba. You have received word klapei (concerning) Markos. If he should come to you, give him a kabbalat panim reception and be mekarev (befriend) him.
11 Also Yehoshua, the one being called Justus. These [Aristarchus, Markos, and Justus] are the only Messianic Jews among my fellow po’alim (workers) in the Malchut Hashem. They became to me an encouragement.
12 Epaphras sends you Drishat Shalom. He has also been mishtatef your kehillah, an eved of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, always davening, always agonizing for you in his tefillos, that you might stand Bnei Chayil mature and be fully assured in all the ratzon Hashem.
13 For I give solemn eidus for him that he has toiled much for you and for the ones in Laodicea and for the ones in Hieraopolis.
14 Lukas, the beloved physician, sends you Drishat Shalom, and Demas.
15 Drishat Shalom to the Achim b’Moshiach in Laodicea and to Nymphas and the Brit Chadasha kehillah at her bais.
16 And whenever this iggeret ([hakodesh] holy epistle) is read before you, make sure also that it is read in the Moshiach’s Brit Chadasha Kehillah of the Laodiceans, and also you should read the iggeret [hakodesh] of the Laodiceans.
17 And say to Archippus, "Give attention to the avodas kodesh ministry which you received in Adoneinu, that you fulfill it."
18 This is my handsigned drishat shalom greeting, SHA’UL. Remember my sharsherot (prison chains). Chen v’Chesed Hashem be with you. [T.N. When Rav Sha’ul wrote Romans there were four Messianic Jews with him. Here he speaks of three.]
Colossians 4
J.B. Phillips New Testament
4 Remember, then, you employers, that your responsibility is to be fair and just towards those whom you employ, never forgetting that you yourselves have a heavenly employer.
Some simple, practical advice
2-4 Always maintain the habit of prayer: be both alert and thankful as you pray. Include us in your prayers, please, that God may open for us a door for the entrance of the Gospel. Pray that we may talk freely of the mystery of Christ (for which I am at present in chains), and that I may make that mystery plain to men, which I know is my duty.
5-6 Be wise in your behaviour towards non-Christians, and make the best possible use of your time. Speak pleasantly to them, but never sentimentally, and learn to give a proper answer to every questioner.
Greetings and farewell
7-9 Tychicus (a well-loved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow-servant of the Lord) will tell you all about my present circumstances. This is partly why I am sending him to you. The other reasons are that you may find out how we are all getting on, and that he may put new heart into you. With him is Onesimus one of your own congregation (well-loved and faithful, too). Between them they will tell you of conditions and activities here.
10-11 Aristarchus, who is also in prison here, sends greetings, and so does Barnabas’ cousin, Mark. I believe I told you before about him; if he does come to you, make him welcome. Jesus Justus, another Hebrew Christian, is here too. Only these few are working with me for the kingdom, but what a help they have been!
12-13 Epaphras, another member of your Church, and a real servant of Christ, sends his greeting. He works hard for you even here, for he prays constantly and earnestly for you, that you may become mature Christians, and may fulfil God’s will for you. From my own observation I can tell you that he has a real passion for your welfare, and for that of the churches of Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, our beloved doctor and Demas send their best wishes.
15 My own greetings to the Christians in Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the congregation who meet in her house.
16 When you have had this letter read in your church, see that the Laodiceans have it read in their church too; and see that you read the letter I have written to them.
17 A brief message to Archippus: God ordained you to your work—see that you don’t fail him!
18 My personal greeting to you written by myself. Don’t forget I’m in prison. Grace be with you.
PAUL
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The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.