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· ho Masters kyrios, treat parechō your ho slaves · ho justly dikaios and kai · ho fairly isotēs, knowing oida that hoti you hymeis too kai have echō a Master kyrios in en heaven ouranos.

Persevere proskartereō in ho prayer proseuchē, being vigilant grēgoreō in en it autos with en thanksgiving eucharistia. At the same time hama, pray proseuchomai also kai for peri us hēmeis, that hina · ho God theos will open anoigō a door thura for our hēmeis · ho message logos, so that we may declare laleō the ho mystery mystērion of ho Christ Christos, for dia which hos · kai I am in chains deō; that hina I may make phaneroō it autos known as hōs I egō should dei. Conduct yourselves peripateō with en wisdom sophia toward pros · ho outsiders exō, making the most of exagorazō the ho time kairos. · ho Your hymeis speech logos should always pantote be winsome en charis, seasoned artyō with salt halas, so that you will know oida how pōs you hymeis must dei answer apokrinomai each person heis.

Tychicus Tychikos, a ho beloved agapētos brother adelphos, · kai faithful pistos minister diakonos and kai fellow syndoulos servant in en the Lord kyrios, will tell gnōrizō you hymeis all pas the news ho about kata me egō. I am sending pempō him hos to pros you hymeis for eis this houtos express purpose autos, that hina you may know ginōskō how ho peri we hēmeis are and kai that he may encourage parakaleō · ho your hymeis hearts kardia. With syn him is Onesimus Onēsimos, the ho faithful pistos and kai beloved agapētos brother adelphos, who hos is eimi one ek of you hymeis; they will tell gnōrizō you hymeis about gnōrizō everything pas · ho here hōde.

10 Aristarchus Aristarchos, · ho my egō fellow synaichmalōtos prisoner , sends aspazomai you hymeis greetings aspazomai, as kai does Mark Markos, the ho cousin anepsios of Barnabas Barnabas ( about peri whom hos you received lambanō instructions entolē; if ean he comes erchomai to pros you hymeis, welcome dechomai him autos), 11 and kai Jesus Iēsous who ho is called legō Justus Ioustos. These houtos are eimi the ho only monos Jewish ek peritomē Christians among my fellow synergos workers for eis the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos, and they hostis have been ginomai a comfort parēgoria to me egō. 12 Epaphras Epaphras, who ho is one ek of you hymeis and a servant of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, sends aspazomai you hymeis greetings aspazomai, always pantote laboring agōnizomai on hyper your hymeis behalf in en his ho prayers proseuchē, that hina you may stand histēmi firm in en everything pas that God theos wills thelēma, mature teleios and kai fully assured plērophoreō. · ho 13 For gar I bear him autos witness martyreō that hoti he has echō worked ponos tirelessly polys for hyper you hymeis and kai for those ho in en Laodicea Laodikeia and kai · ho in en Hierapolis Hierapolis. 14 Our ho dear friend agapētos Luke Loukas, the ho physician iatros, sends aspazomai you hymeis his greetings aspazomai, as kai does Demas Dēmas. 15 Give aspazomai my greetings to the ho brothers adelphos who are at en Laodicea Laodikeia as kai well as to Nympha and kai the ho church ekklēsia that meets in kata her autos house oikos. 16 And kai after hotan this ho letter epistolē has been read anaginōskō among para you hymeis, see poieō that hina it is read anaginōskō also kai in en the ho church ekklēsia of the Laodiceans Laodikeus, and kai that hina you hymeis read anaginōskō the ho one from ek Laodicea Laodikeia as kai well . 17 And kai tell legō Archippus Archippos, “ See blepō to it that hina you complete plēroō the ho ministry diakonia that hos you have received paralambanō in en the Lord kyrios.”

18 I, Paul Paulos, write this ho greeting aspasmos in ho my emos own hand cheir. Remember mnēmoneuō my egō · ho chains desmos. · ho Grace charis be with meta you hymeis.

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”

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