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.
歌罗西书 4
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
4 你们作主人的，待仆人要公正，因为知道，你们也有一位主在天上。
劝导
2 你们要恒切祷告，在祷告中警醒感恩。 3 同时，也要为我们祷告，求 神给我们开传道的门，能宣讲基督的奥秘， 4 使我能按着所该说的话将这奥秘显明出来，我为此而被捆锁。 5 你们要把握时机，用智慧与外人来往。 6 你们的言谈要时常带着温和，好像用盐调味，让你们知道该怎样应对每一个人。
最后的问候
7 推基古是我亲爱的弟兄，忠心的仆役，和我一同作主的仆人；他要把我一切的事都告诉你们。 8 我特意打发他到你们那里去，好让你们知道我们的情况，又让他安慰你们的心。 9 我又打发一位亲爱忠心的弟兄阿尼西谋同去；他也是你们那里的人。他们会把这里一切的事都告诉你们。
10 与我一同坐牢的亚里达古问候你们。巴拿巴的表弟马可也问候你们。关于他，你们已经得到指示；他若到你们那里，你们要接待他。 11 称为犹士都的耶数也问候你们。奉割礼的人中，只有这三个人是为 神的国与我作同工的，也是使我心里得安慰的。 12 有一位你们那里的人，作基督耶稣[a]仆人的以巴弗问候你们。他祷告的时候常为你们竭力祈求，愿你们能站稳而成熟，充分确信 神一切的旨意。 13 他为你们、老底嘉和希拉坡里的弟兄多多劳苦，这是我可以为他作见证的。 14 亲爱的医生路加和底马问候你们。 15 请问候老底嘉的弟兄以及宁法，和她家里[b]的教会。 16 你们宣读了这书信，也要交给老底嘉的教会宣读；你们也要宣读从老底嘉转来的书信。 17 你们要对亚基布说：“务要完成你从主所领受的职分。”
18 我—保罗亲笔问候你们。要记念我在捆锁中。愿恩惠与你们同在！
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和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.