Colossians 4
Contemporary English Version
4 (A) Slave owners, be fair and honest with your slaves. Don't forget that you have a Master in heaven.
2 Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful. 3 Be sure to pray that God will make a way for us to spread his message and explain the mystery about Christ, even though I am in jail for doing this. 4 Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible.
5 (B) When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. 6 (C) Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.
Final Greetings
7 (D)(E) Tychicus is the dear friend, who faithfully works and serves the Lord with us, and he will give you the news about me. 8 I am sending him to cheer you up by telling you how we are getting along. 9 (F) Onesimus, the dear and faithful follower from your own group, is coming with him. The two of them will tell you everything that has happened here.
10 (G) Aristarchus is in jail with me. He sends greetings to you, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have already been told to welcome Mark, if he visits you. 11 Jesus, who is known as Justus, sends his greetings. These three men are the only Jewish followers who have worked with me for the kingdom of God. They have given me much comfort.
12 (H) Your own Epaphras, who serves Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He always prays hard that you may fully know what the Lord wants you to do and that you may do it completely. 13 I have seen how much trouble he has gone through for you and for the followers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 (I) Our dear doctor Luke sends you his greetings, and so does Demas.
15 Give my greetings to the followers at Laodicea, especially to Nympha and the church that meets in her home.
16 After this letter has been read to your people, be sure to have it read in the church at Laodicea. And you should read the letter that I have sent to them.[a]
17 (J) Remind Archippus to do the work that the Lord has given him to do.
18 I am signing this letter myself: PAUL.
Don't forget that I am in jail.
I pray that God will be kind to you.
Footnotes
- 4.16 the letter that I have sent to them: This is the only mention of the letter to the church at Laodicea.
Colossians 4
King James Version
4 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 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:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 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.
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
Colossians 4
EasyEnglish Bible
4 Masters, be fair to your servants. Give them what is right. Remember that you also serve a master, and he is in heaven.
Paul tells the believers to pray
2 Continue to pray seriously. Stay awake, like people who watch carefully. And remember to thank God. 3 Also pray for us. Ask God to make it possible for us to tell people his message. We want people to understand the message about Christ that was a secret before. I am now in a prison because I taught people those things. 4 Pray that I will be able to tell people this message clearly. That is what I should do.
5 When you are with people who do not believe in Christ, be careful how you live. Use every chance to do good things. 6 When you speak to people, always speak kind words. Say things that will help them. Then, when someone asks you a question, you will know how to reply.
Paul finishes his letter
7 Our Christian friend, Tychicus, will tell you all the news about me. He works hard to serve the Lord. Like me, he is the Lord's servant. 8 I want him to tell you what is happening to us, so that you will feel stronger. That is the reason why I am sending him to you. 9 Onesimus will travel with him. As you know, he is one of your own people. He is a good Christian friend who serves Christ well. Onesimus and Tychicus will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus is also here with me in the prison. He says ‘hello’ to you. Barnabas's cousin, Mark also says ‘hello’ to you. I have already told you about him. So, if he comes to you, be kind to him. 11 Jesus, who is also called Justus, says ‘hello’ to you, too. These three men are the only Jewish believers who are serving God with me. We work together to bring people into the kingdom of God. These men have helped me to be strong.
12 Epaphras says ‘hello’ to you. He is also one of your people, and he is Jesus Christ's servant. He always prays very strongly for you. He prays that you will continue to grow as believers. He prays that you will completely understand everything that God wants you to do. 13 I can tell you this about Epaphras: He has worked very hard for you, and also for the people at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.
14 Our good friend Luke, the doctor, says ‘hello’ to you. Demas also says ‘hello’. 15 Say ‘hello’ for me to all the believers at Laodicea. Also say ‘hello’ to Nympha and to the group of believers that meet in her house.
16 After someone has read this letter to all of you, send it to the believers at Laodicea. Tell them to read it aloud to the church there. You must also read my letter that the believers at Laodicea will send to you.
17 Say to Archippus, ‘As you serve the Lord, be careful to finish the work that he gave you to do.’
18 I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. Remember to pray for me while I am in prison. I pray that God will continue to be very kind to you.
Colossians 4
Names of God Bible
4 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
Advice for All Christians
2 Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. 3 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. 4 Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside the Christian faith. Make the most of your opportunities.
6 Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
Greetings from Paul and His Coworkers
7 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. 8 I’m sending him to you so that you may know how we are doing and so that he may encourage you. 9 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
- Colossians 4:7 English equivalent difficult.
- Colossians 4:18 Or “grace.”
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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