Colossians 4
English Standard Version
4 Masters, treat your bondservants[a] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 (A)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (B)with thanksgiving. 3 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— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 (F)Walk in wisdom toward (G)outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 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
7 Tychicus will tell you (K)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[b] in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 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
- Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
- Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
- Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters
Colossians 4
International Children’s Bible
4 Masters, give the things that are good and fair to your slaves. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
What the Christians Are to Do
2 Continue praying and keep alert. And when you pray, always thank God. 3 Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. Pray that we can preach the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. I am in prison because I preach this truth. 4 Pray that I can speak in a way that will make it clear as I should.
5 Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. 6 When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.
News About the People with Paul
7 Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful minister and servant with me in the Lord. He will tell you all the things that are happening to me. 8 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are. I am sending him to encourage you. 9 I send him with Onesimus. Onesimus is a faithful and dear brother in Christ. He is one of your group. They will tell you all that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus greets you. He is a prisoner with me. And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also greets you. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras also greets you. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. And he is from your group. He always prays for you. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything that God wants for you. 13 I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor, greet you.
15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea. And greet Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter is read to you, be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you.”
18 I, Paul, greet you and write this with my own hand. Remember me in prison. God’s grace be with you.
Colosenses 4
Nueva Traducción Viviente
4 Amos, sean justos e imparciales con sus esclavos. Recuerden que ustedes también tienen un Amo en el cielo.
Aliento para orar
2 Dedíquense a la oración con una mente alerta y un corazón agradecido. 3 Oren también por nosotros, para que Dios nos dé muchas oportunidades para hablar de su misterioso plan acerca de Cristo. Por eso estoy aquí en cadenas. 4 Oren para que pueda proclamar ese mensaje con la claridad que debo hacerlo.
5 Vivan sabiamente entre los que no creen en Cristo y aprovechen al máximo cada oportunidad. 6 Que sus conversaciones sean cordiales y agradables,[a] a fin de que ustedes tengan la respuesta adecuada para cada persona.
Instrucciones finales y saludos de Pablo
7 Tíquico les contará con detalles cómo me va. Él es un amado hermano y un fiel colaborador que sirve conmigo en la obra del Señor. 8 Precisamente lo envié para que les cuente cómo estamos y los anime. 9 También les envío a Onésimo, un fiel y amado hermano, quien es uno de ustedes. Él y Tíquico les contarán todo lo que sucede aquí.
10 Aristarco, quien está en la cárcel conmigo, les manda saludos; y también los saluda Marcos, el primo de Bernabé. Tal como ya se les indicó, si Marcos pasa por allí, hagan que se sienta bienvenido. 11 Jesús (al que llamamos Justo) también envía saludos. Ellos son los únicos creyentes judíos entre mis colaboradores; trabajan aquí conmigo para el reino de Dios. ¡Y qué consuelo han sido para mí!
12 Les manda saludos Epafras, un miembro de la misma comunidad de fe que ustedes y siervo de Cristo Jesús. Siempre ora con fervor por ustedes y le pide a Dios que los fortalezca y perfeccione, y les dé la plena confianza de que están cumpliendo toda la voluntad de Dios. 13 Puedo asegurarles que él ora intensamente por ustedes y también por los creyentes en Laodicea y en Hierápolis.
14 Les manda saludos Lucas, el médico amado, y también Demas. 15 Les ruego que saluden de mi parte a nuestros hermanos en Laodicea, y también a Ninfas y a la iglesia que se reúne en su casa.
16 Una vez que hayan leído esta carta, pásenla a la iglesia en Laodicea para que ellos también puedan leerla. Y ustedes deberían leer la carta que les escribí a ellos.
17 Además, díganle a Arquipo: «Asegúrate de llevar a cabo el ministerio que el Señor te dio».
18 Firmo mi propio saludo de puño y letra: Pablo.
Recuerden que estoy en cadenas.
Que la gracia de Dios sea con ustedes.
Footnotes
- 4:6 En griego y condimentadas con sal.
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.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
La Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, © Tyndale House Foundation, 2010. Todos los derechos reservados.
