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(A)Masters, be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.

Instructions

Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison. Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear.

(B)Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. (C)Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

Final Greetings

(D)Our dear friend Tychicus, who is a faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me. That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along. (E)With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 (F)Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have already received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes your way.) 11 Joshua, also called Justus, sends greetings too. These three are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a great help to me.

12 (G)Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will. 13 I can personally testify to his hard work for you and for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 (H)Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas send you their greetings.

15 Give our best wishes to the believers in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.[a] 16 After you read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. At the same time, you are to read the letter that the believers in Laodicea will send you. 17 (I)And tell Archippus, “Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service.”

18 With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul Do not forget my chains!

May God's grace be with you.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:15 Nympha … her house; some manuscripts have Nymphas … his house.

主人要公平合理地对待奴隶,记住,你们在天堂也有一个主。

该做的事情

要坚持祈祷,要警觉,要怀着感恩的心情。 同时也要为我们祈祷,请上帝赐给我们传播信息 [a]的机会,宣传基督的奥秘。我是因传教而入狱的。 请祈祷吧,让我能把这奥秘向人们阐述清楚,这是我应该做的。

你们在与非基督徒来往时,要有智慧,要充分利用一切机会。 你们说话时,应该总是和蔼可亲,并且要总是迸发出智慧的火花,知道如何回答每个人提出的问题。

和保罗在一起的人的消息

我亲爱的兄弟推基古,在主内是忠诚的仆人并与我一同做奴仆。他会告诉你们我的情况。 我派他去你们那里就是为了这个目的:让你们知道我们的消息,并使你们受到鼓励。 我还派我们忠实和亲爱的兄弟阿尼西母和他一起去。他是从你们那里来的,他们会告诉你们这里发生的一切情况。

10 和我一起坐牢的亚里达古向你们问好。巴拿巴的表弟马可也问你们好。(关于马可,我已吩咐过你们了,如果他来拜访你们,一定要欢迎他。) 11 耶数,也叫犹士都,也问你们好。在犹太信徒中,只有这三位与我一同为宣传上帝的王国而工作。他们给了我极大的安慰。

12 从你们那里来的以巴弗,基督耶稣的仆人,也问你们好。他总是热切地为你们祈祷,请求上帝让你们的精神日渐成熟,并全力以赴地追求上帝的一切意愿。 13 我可以为他作证,他一直为你们、为老底嘉人和希拉波立人努力地工作着。 14 亲爱的医生路加和底马问候你们。

15 请向在老底嘉的兄弟们问好,问宁法和在她家的教会好。 16 你们读完这封信后,一定要把它宣读给老底嘉的教会。你们也应该读读我那封从老底嘉转给你们的信。 17 告诉亚基布∶“一定要完成你们在主内领受到的任务。”

18 我,保罗,亲笔写下对你们的问候。记住我还在监狱里。愿上帝的恩典与你们同在。

Footnotes

  1. 歌 羅 西 書 4:3 信息: 即福音,上帝使人们的罪得到宽恕并与上帝永远和好的途径。

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