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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, 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, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

Advice for All Christians

Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner. Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do.

Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside the Christian faith. Make the most of your opportunities.

Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.

Greetings from Paul and His Coworkers

I’m sending Tychicus to you. He is our dear brother, trustworthy deacon,[a] and partner in the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening to me. I’m sending him to you so that you may know how we are doing and so that he may encourage you. I’m sending Onesimus with him. Onesimus is from your city and is our faithful and dear brother. They will tell you about everything that’s happening here.

10 Aristarchus, who is a prisoner like me, sends greetings. So does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about Mark. If he comes to you, welcome him. 11 Jesus, called Justus, also greets you. They are the only converts from the Jewish religion who are working with me for God’s kingdom. They have provided me with comfort. 12 Epaphras, a servant of Christ Yeshua from your city, greets you. He always prays intensely for you. He prays that you will continue to be mature and completely convinced of everything that God wants. 13 I assure you that he works hard for you and the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 My dear friend Luke, the physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Greet our brothers and sisters in Laodicea, especially Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

16 After you have read this letter, read it in the church at Laodicea. Make sure that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus to complete all the work that he started as the Lord’s servant.

18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I’m a prisoner. God’s good will[b] be with you.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:7 English equivalent difficult.
  2. Colossians 4:18 Or “grace.”

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.