你們做主人的,要公正、公平地對待奴僕,因為你們知道,你們也有一位主人在天上。

信末的教導

你們要恆切禱告,禱告中要保持警醒,懷著感謝的心。 同時也要為我們禱告:願神給我們開福音[a]的門,使我們能傳講基督的奧祕——我也是為此被捆鎖的, 願我能照著所當說的,把這奧祕顯明出來。 你們要把握機會[b],對外面的人靠智慧行事。 你們的話語總要帶著恩惠,像用鹽調和過的,好使你們知道該怎樣回答每一個人。

最後的問安

有關我的一切事,特其庫斯會讓你們明白。他是蒙愛的弟兄、忠心的僕人[c],是在主裡同做奴僕[d]的。 我正是為此派他到你們那裡去,好讓你們知道有關我們的事[e],並且讓他安慰你們的心。 與他一起去的奧尼斯莫,是一位忠心、蒙愛的弟兄,是你們那裡的人。他們會把這裡的一切情況都讓你們明白。

10 與我一起坐牢的亞里達古問候你們。巴拿巴的表弟馬可也問候你們。關於馬可,你們已經領受了指示:如果他到你們那裡去,你們要接受他。 11 稱為猶斯托耶數也問候你們。在割禮派的人[f]中,只有這幾個人是為了神的國與我同工的;他們也成了我的安慰。 12 以帕弗拉問候你們;他來自你們那裡,是基督耶穌的奴僕;他在禱告中,總是為你們竭力祈求[g]:願你們成熟、站立得住,在神的一切旨意中確信不疑[h] 13 其實我可以為他見證:他為了你們和那些在勞迪西亞希拉波利斯的人,多受勞苦[i] 14 蒙愛的醫生路加迪馬斯問候你們。 15 請問候在勞迪西亞的弟兄們,還有寧法以及在她[j]家裡的教會。 16 這封書信在你們那裡宣讀了以後,也一定要在勞迪西亞的教會中宣讀;你們也要宣讀從勞迪西亞轉來的書信。 17 請你們告訴阿其波斯:「在主裡所領受的服事工作,要留心把它完成。」

18 保羅親筆問候:請你們記住我所受的捆鎖。願恩典與你們同在![k]

Footnotes

  1. 歌羅西書 4:3 福音——原文直譯「話語」或「道」。
  2. 歌羅西書 4:5 要把握機會——原文直譯「要贖回時機」。
  3. 歌羅西書 4:7 僕人——或譯作「執事」。
  4. 歌羅西書 4:7 奴僕——或譯作「僕人」。
  5. 歌羅西書 4:8 好讓你們知道有關我們的事——有古抄本作「好讓他知道有關你們的事」。
  6. 歌羅西書 4:11 割禮派的人——或譯作「受割禮的人」。
  7. 歌羅西書 4:12 竭力祈求——原文直譯「爭戰」。
  8. 歌羅西書 4:12 確信不疑——有古抄本作「得以完全」。
  9. 歌羅西書 4:13 多受勞苦——有古抄本作「多有熱心」。
  10. 歌羅西書 4:15 她——有古抄本作「他」。
  11. 歌羅西書 4:18 有古抄本附「阿們。」

Masters, treat your bondservants[a] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

(A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (B)with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may (C)open to us a door for the word, (D)to declare the mystery of Christ, (E)on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

(F)Walk in wisdom toward (G)outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always (H)be gracious, (I)seasoned with salt, (J)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

Tychicus will tell you (K)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[b] in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him (L)Onesimus, our faithful and (M)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 (N)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (O)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(P)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (Q)Justus. (R)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (S)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (T)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (U)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (V)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 (W)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (X)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[c] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (Y)the church in her house. 16 And when (Z)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to (AA)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (AB)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, (AC)write this greeting with my own hand. (AD)Remember (AE)my chains. (AF)Grace be with you.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
  2. Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  3. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters

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.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

(B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; (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, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

(H)Walk in (I)wisdom toward those who are outside, (J)redeeming the time. 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)

(O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 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

  1. Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
  2. Colossians 4:8 NU you may know our circumstances and he may comfort
  3. Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
  4. Colossians 4:13 NU concern
  5. Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
  6. Colossians 4:15 NU her

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