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Amos, conceded de buen grado a los esclavos cuanto sea justo y conveniente, sabiendo que también vosotros tenéis un amo en el cielo.

Conclusión (4,2-18)

Exhortaciones

Entregaos a la oración con espíritu vigilante y corazón agradecido. Y rogad también a Dios por nosotros para que nos facilite la tarea de anunciar el plan de Dios realizado en Cristo, por el cual me encuentro ahora encarcelado, y que tengo que dar a conocer convenientemente. Portaos sabiamente con los no cristianos y aprovechad el momento presente. En vuestra conversación sed siempre amenos y simpáticos dando a cada uno la respuesta oportuna.

Noticias

De mi situación os informará Tíquico, el hermano querido y fiel compañero mío en el servicio cristiano. Os lo envío expresamente para que tengáis noticia de mis cosas y para que os anime. Con él va Onésimo, vuestro paisano, no menos fiel y querido. Ellos os informarán de todo cuanto sucede por aquí.

10 Os saluda Aristarco, mi compañero de prisión, y Marcos, el primo de Bernabé. En caso de que Marcos vaya a visitaros, acogedlo con cariño según os indiqué. 11 Os saluda Jesús, de sobrenombre Justo. Entre los conversos del judaísmo, sólo estos tres trabajan conmigo en la extensión del reino de Dios, y no ha sido pequeña la satisfacción que me han proporcionado. 12 Saludos de Epafras, paisano vuestro y siervo de Cristo Jesús; es de ver con qué ahínco ruega por vosotros para que os mantengáis firmes en el pleno y perfecto cumplimiento de la voluntad de Dios. 13 Soy testigo de lo mucho que se preocupa por vosotros, y también por los de Hierápolis y Laodicea. 14 Os saludan Lucas, el médico tan querido, y Dimas.

15 Saludos a los hermanos de Laodicea, a Ninfa y a la iglesia que se reúne en su casa. 16 Cuando hayáis leído esta carta, procurad que sea leída también en la iglesia de Laodicea; y, por vuestra parte, leed también la que os llegue de Laodicea. 17 Decidle a Arquipo que desempeñe con esmero el ministerio que el Señor le ha encomendado.

18 Este saludo final es de mi puño y letra: Pablo. No olvidéis que estoy preso. Que la gracia de Dios esté con vosotros.

Los que tienen esclavos, deben ser amos justos y tratar bien a sus esclavos. Recuerden que en el cielo también tienen un Amo, que es el Señor Jesucristo.

Otras enseñanzas

Dediquen siempre tiempo a la oración, y den gracias a Dios. Oren también por nosotros, y pídanle a Dios que podamos anunciar libremente el mensaje y explicar el plan secreto de Cristo. Precisamente por anunciarlo estoy ahora preso. Pídanle a Dios que yo pueda explicar ese mensaje con toda claridad.

Usen su inteligencia para tratar como se debe a los que no confían en Cristo. Aprovechen bien cada oportunidad que tengan de conversar con ellos. Hablen siempre de cosas buenas, díganlas de manera agradable, y piensen bien cómo se debe contestar a cada uno.

Saludos finales

Tíquico, fiel seguidor de Cristo y compañero nuestro, les contará todo lo que tiene que ver conmigo. Él siempre me ha ayudado, y juntos hemos servido al Señor. Por eso mismo lo estoy enviando a ustedes, para que les dé ánimo y les diga cómo estamos. Con él va también Onésimo, que es un fiel miembro de la iglesia de ustedes y al cual queremos mucho. Ellos les contarán todo lo que pasa por aquí.

10 Aristarco, que está preso conmigo, les envía saludos. También los saluda Marcos, el primo de Bernabé. Si él llega a visitarlos, no dejen de recibirlo. 11 Jesús, al que llaman el Justo, también les envía saludos. De todos los judíos que han confiado en Cristo, sólo ellos me han ayudado en mi trabajo por el reino de Dios, y me han animado mucho.

12 Reciban saludos de Epafras, un servidor de Jesucristo que también pertenece a la iglesia de ustedes. Él siempre ora por ustedes, y pide a Dios que los ayude, para que sigan confiando firmemente en Cristo y se mantengan cumpliendo la voluntad de Dios, sin cometer ninguna falta. 13 Yo mismo he visto cómo Epafras se preocupa por ustedes y por los de las iglesias en Hierápolis y Laodicea.

14 También les envían saludos Demas y el médico Lucas, a quien queremos mucho.

15 Saluden de mi parte a los miembros de la iglesia en Laodicea. También a Ninfa y a los cristianos que se reúnen en su casa para adorar a Dios. 16 Cuando ustedes hayan leído esta carta, háganla llegar a los que se reúnen en Laodicea, para que también ellos la lean, y ustedes a su vez lean la carta que yo les envié a ellos. 17 Díganle a Arquipo que trate de hacer bien el trabajo que el Señor Jesucristo le ha encargado.

18 Yo mismo, con mi propia mano les escribo esto: «Recuerden que estoy preso. Deseo de todo corazón que Dios los llene de su amor.»

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, 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.

Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

Further Advice for the Christian Life

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner[a], so that I may reveal[b] it, as it is necessary for me to speak. Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

Exhortations Regarding Fellow Workers

Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to you all my circumstances[c], whom I have sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know our circumstances[d] and he may encourage your hearts, together with Onesimus, my faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all the circumstances[e] here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions—if he should come to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God from the circumcision, who have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, greets you, a slave of Christ[f] always struggling on behalf of you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured[g] in all the will of God. 13 For I testify to him that he is working hard[h] on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the physician, our dear friend, greets you, as does Demas. 15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nympha and the church in her[i] house. 16 And whenever this letter is read among you, see to it[j] that it is read also among the Laodicean church, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “Direct your attention to the ministry that you received in the Lord, in order that you may complete it.”

Final Greeting and Benediction

18 The greeting is by my hand, Paul’s. Remember my imprisonment[k]. Grace be with you.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:3 Literally “I have been bound”
  2. Colossians 4:4 Or “may make it clear”
  3. Colossians 4:7 Literally “the things according to me”
  4. Colossians 4:8 Literally “the things concerning us”
  5. Colossians 4:9 Literally “the things”
  6. Colossians 4:12 Some manuscripts have “of Christ Jesus”
  7. Colossians 4:12 Or “and filled”
  8. Colossians 4:13 Literally “he has much labor”
  9. Colossians 4:15 Some manuscripts, including the majority of Byzantine minuscules, read the masculine form of the pronoun here (“his”), understanding the form of the name “Nympha” earlier in the verse to be masculine
  10. Colossians 4:16 Literally “cause”
  11. Colossians 4:18 Literally “bonds”