Colossians 4
New King James Version
Christian Graces; Final Greetings
4 Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Christian Graces
2 (B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; 3 (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, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 (H)Walk in (I)wisdom toward those who are outside, (J)redeeming the time. 6 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)
7 (O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 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
- Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
- Colossians 4:8 NU you may know our circumstances and he may comfort
- Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
- Colossians 4:13 NU concern
- Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
- Colossians 4:15 NU her
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.]
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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