Colossians 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, realizing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Prayer and Apostolic Spirit. 2 Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;(A) 3 at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,(B) 4 that I may make it clear, as I must speak. 5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.(C) 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.
V. Conclusion[a]
Tychicus and Onesimus. 7 Tychicus,[b] my beloved brother, trustworthy minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news of me.(D) 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 together with Onesimus, a trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.(E)
From Paul’s Co-Workers. 10 Aristarchus,[c] my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, receive him),(F) 11 and Jesus,[d] who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras[e] sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of Christ [Jesus], always striving for you in his prayers so that you may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.(G) 13 For I can testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea[f] and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke[g] the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas.(H)
A Message for the Laodiceans. 15 Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house.[h] 16 And when this letter is read before you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you yourselves read the one from Laodicea.[i] 17 And tell Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry[j] that you received in the Lord.”(I)
18 The greeting is in my own hand,[k] Paul’s. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.(J)
Footnotes
- 4:7–18 Paul concludes with greetings and information concerning various Christians known to the Colossians.
- 4:7 Tychicus: Acts 20:4 mentions his role in the collection for Jerusalem; Eph 6:21 repeats what is said here; see also 2 Tm 4:12; Ti 3:12.
- 4:10 Aristarchus: a Thessalonian who was with Paul at Ephesus and Caesarea and on the voyage to Rome (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2). Mark: also referred to at Phlm 24 and 2 Tm 4:11 and, as “John Mark,” in Acts (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:13; 15:37–40). See also 1 Pt 5:13 and the note there. Traditionally the author of the second gospel.
- 4:11 Jesus: a then common Jewish name, the Greek form of Joshua.
- 4:12 Epaphras: see notes on Col 1:3–8 and Col 1:7.
- 4:13 Laodicea: see note on Col 2:1. Hierapolis: a city northeast of Laodicea and northwest of Colossae.
- 4:14 Luke: only here described as a medical doctor; cf. Phlm 24 and 2 Tm 4:11. Traditionally the author of the third gospel. Demas: cf. Phlm 24; he later deserted Paul (2 Tm 4:10).
- 4:15 Nympha and…her house: some manuscripts read a masculine for the house-church leader, “Nymphas and…his house.”
- 4:16 The one from Laodicea: either a letter by Paul that has been lost or the Letter to the Ephesians (cf. note on Eph 1:1 in Ephesus).
- 4:17 Fulfill the ministry: usually taken to mean that Archippus, the son of Philemon and Apphia (Phlm 1–2), is “pastor” at Colossae. An alternate interpretation is that Archippus, not Philemon, is the owner of the slave Onesimus and that Paul is asking Archippus to complete the service he has received in the Lord by sending Onesimus back to minister to Paul in his captivity (cf. Phlm 20).
- 4:18 My own hand: a postscript in Paul’s own hand was his custom; cf. Gal 6:11–18 and 2 Thes 3:17–18.
Colosas 4
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible)
4 Mga amo, maging mabuti at makatarungan kayo sa mga alipin ninyo. Alalahanin ninyong kayo rin ay mayroong amo sa langit.
Ang Ilan pang mga Bilin
2 Magpakasigasig kayo sa pananalangin nang may pasasalamat, at habang nananalangin kayo ingatan ninyo ang pag-iisip ninyo. 3 Ipanalangin nʼyo rin na bigyan kami ng Dios ng pagkakataon na maihayag ang mensahe tungkol kay Cristo na inilihim noon. Ang pangangaral ko tungkol dito ang dahilan ng pagkabilanggo ko. 4 Ipanalangin nʼyo na maipangaral ko ito nang mabuti, gaya nang nararapat.
5 Maging matalino kayo sa pakikitungo sa mga hindi mananampalataya, at samantalahin nʼyo ang lahat ng pagkakataon na maibahagi ang pananampalataya nʼyo. 6 Kung nakikipag-usap kayo sa kanila, gumamit kayo ng mga kawili-wiling salita para makinig sila sa inyo, at dapat alam nʼyo kung paano sumagot sa tanong ng bawat isa.
Mga Pangangamusta
7 Kung tungkol naman sa kalagayan ko rito, ang minamahal naming si Tykicus ang magbabalita sa inyo. Isa siyang tapat na manggagawa at kapwa ko lingkod ng Panginoon. 8 Pinapunta ko siya riyan para malaman nʼyo ang kalagayan namin, nang lumakas naman ang loob ninyo. 9 Kasama niya sa pagpunta riyan si Onesimus, ang tapat at minamahal nating kapatid na kababayan ninyo. Sila ang magbabalita sa inyo tungkol sa lahat ng nangyayari rito.
10 Kinukumusta kayo nina Aristarcus na kapwa ko bilanggo at Marcos na pinsan ni Bernabe. (Gaya ng ibinilin ko sa inyo, malugod ninyong tanggapin si Marcos pagdating niya riyan.) 11 Kinukumusta rin kayo ni Jesus na tinatawag na Justus. Sila lang ang mga Judio na kasama ko ritong naglilingkod para sa kaharian ng Dios, at pinapalakas nila ang loob ko.
12 Kinukumusta rin kayo ng kababayan ninyong si Epafras na isa ring lingkod ni Cristo Jesus. Lagi siyang nananalangin nang taimtim na manatili kayong matatag, maging ganap, at may buong katiyakan sa kalooban ng Dios. 13 Saksi ako sa mga pagsisikap ni Epafras para sa inyo at para sa mga nasa Laodicea at Hierapolis. 14 Kinukumusta rin kayo ni Lucas, ang minamahal nating doktor, at ni Demas.
15 Ikumusta nʼyo ako sa mga kapatid sa Laodicea, ganoon din kay Nymfa at sa mga mananampalataya[a] na nagtitipon sa bahay niya. 16 Pagkabasa nʼyo ng sulat na ito, ipabasa nʼyo rin sa iglesya sa Laodicea at basahin nʼyo rin ang sulat mula sa kanila. 17 Pakisabi kay Arkipus na ipagpatuloy niya ang gawaing tinanggap niya sa Panginoon.
18 Ako, si Pablo, ang mismong sumulat ng pagbating ito.
Alalahanin nʼyo ako rito sa bilangguan.
Pagpalain nawa kayo ng Dios.
Footnotes
- 4:15 mga mananampalataya: sa literal, iglesya.
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