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, treat your bondservants[a] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

(A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (B)with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may (C)open to us a door for the word, (D)to declare the mystery of Christ, (E)on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

(F)Walk in wisdom toward (G)outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always (H)be gracious, (I)seasoned with salt, (J)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

Tychicus will tell you (K)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[b] in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him (L)Onesimus, our faithful and (M)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 (N)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (O)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(P)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (Q)Justus. (R)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (S)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (T)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (U)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (V)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 (W)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (X)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[c] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (Y)the church in her house. 16 And when (Z)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to (AA)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (AB)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (AC)write this greeting with my own hand. (AD)Remember (AE)my chains. (AF)Grace be with you.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  3. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters

Ni slavägare måste vara rättvisa mot alla era slavar. Se till att de får vad de ska ha. Och kom alltid ihåg att ni också har en Herre i himlen som noga följer vad ni gör.

Tröttna inte i er bön, utan håll ut! Förvänta er att Gud ska svara er och glöm inte att tacka honom.

Glöm inte heller att be för oss att Gud ska ge oss många möjligheter att predika Kristi goda nyheter, för vars skull jag sitter här i fängelset.

Be att jag ska få mod att tala fritt och att jag kan göra det så enkelt och klart som möjligt.

Ta vara på alla möjligheter att berätta de goda nyheterna för andra. Uppträd alltid förståndigt i era kontakter med andra människor.

Tänk på vad ni säger, så att ni kan ge de rätta svaren till alla som frågar.

Personliga hälsningar

Vår högt älskade broder Tychikos kommer att berätta för er hur jag har det. Han arbetar hårt och tjänar Herren tillsammans med mig.

Jag skickar iväg honom på denna speciella resa bara för att få veta hur ni har det och för att han ska trösta och uppmuntra er.

Jag skickar också Onesimos till er, en trofast och kär broder, en av era egna. Han och Tychikos kommer att berätta de senaste nyheterna för er.

10 Aristarchos, som sitter i fängelset här tillsammans med mig, hälsar er hjärtligt och det gör också Markus som är kusin med Barnabas. Och som jag sagt förut: Ge Barnabas ett riktigt varmt välkomnande om han kommer till er.

11 Jesus, som också kallas Justus, skickar även han sina hälsningar. Dessa är de enda judar som arbetar med mig här som tror på Jesus, och ni kan inte ana vilken uppmuntran de har varit för mig.

12 Epafras, Jesu Kristi tjänare, sänder sina varma hälsningar. Han ber med stort allvar för er att Gud ska göra er starka och fullkomliga, och att ni ska förstå vad som är hans vilja i allt ni gör.

13 Jag kan försäkra er om att han har kämpat mycket för er i sina böner och likaså för de kristna i Laodikeia och Hierapolis.

14 Vår käre Lukas, läkaren, sänder sina hälsningar, och likaså Demas.

15 Hälsa till de kristna i Laodikeia och till Nymfas och den grupp som samlas i hans hem.

16 Vill ni förresten skicka det här brevet vidare till Laodikeia, när ni har läst det? Och läs själva det brev som jag skrev till dem.

17 Och säg till Archippos: Se till att du gör allt det som Herren har sagt till dig att göra.

18 Här skriver jag min egen hälsning med min egen handstil. Kom ihåg mig här i fängelset! Välsignelse från Gud till er alla!HälsningarPaulus

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

(B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; (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, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

(H)Walk in (I)wisdom toward those who are outside, (J)redeeming the time. 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)

(O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 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

  1. Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
  2. Colossians 4:8 NU you may know our circumstances and he may comfort
  3. Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
  4. Colossians 4:13 NU concern
  5. Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
  6. Colossians 4:15 NU her