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Colossians 4
New King James Version
Colossians 4
New King James Version
Christian Graces; Final Greetings
4 Masters,(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Christian Graces
2 (B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (C)with thanksgiving; 3 (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, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 (H)Walk in (I)wisdom toward those who are outside, (J)redeeming the time. 6 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)
7 (O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that [b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 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
- Colossians 4:3 hidden truth
- Colossians 4:8 NU you may know our circumstances and he may comfort
- Colossians 4:12 NU fully assured
- Colossians 4:13 NU concern
- Colossians 4:15 NU Nympha
- Colossians 4:15 NU her
Colossians 4
New International Version
Colossians 4
New International Version
4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer,(B) being watchful and thankful. 3 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) 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise(F) in the way you act toward outsiders;(G) make the most of every opportunity.(H) 6 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
7 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. 8 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) 9 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
- Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
- Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
- Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
Colossians 4
Expanded Bible
Colossians 4
Expanded Bible
4 Masters, give what is good and fair to your slaves. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
What the Christians Are to Do
2 ·Continue praying [Be devoted to prayer], keeping alert, and always thanking God. 3 Also pray for us that God will ·give us an opportunity [L open a door for us] to tell people his ·message [word]. Pray that we can preach the ·secret that God has made known about Christ [L mystery of Christ; 1:26]. This is why I am in ·prison [chains; C Paul is probably writing from house arrest in Rome, about ad 60; see Acts 28:30–31]. 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 [behave towards] people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. 6 When you talk, you should always be ·kind [gracious] and ·pleasant [winsome; engaging; or wholesome; L seasoned with salt] so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.
News About the People with Paul
7 Tychicus [Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12] is my ·dear [beloved] brother in Christ and a faithful ·minister [servant] and ·servant with me [fellow slave/bondservant] in the Lord. He will tell you all the things that are happening to me. 8 This is why I am sending him: so you may know how we are[a] and he may encourage ·you [L your hearts]. 9 I send him with Onesimus [Philem. 10], a faithful and ·dear [beloved] ·brother in Christ [L brother], and one of your ·group [or own people; or fellow-citizens]. They will tell you all that has happened here.
10 Aristarchus [Acts 19:29; 20:4; Philem. 24], a prisoner with me, and Mark [Acts 12:25; 13:13; 15:37–39], the cousin of Barnabas [Acts 4:36; 9:26–27; 11:22, 25, 30; 13:2–4; 15:36–39], greet you. (·I have already told you what to do [L You have received instructions] about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only ·Jewish believers [L ones of the circumcision] who work with me for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras [1:7], a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Jesus Christ, from your ·group [or people; or city], also greets you. He always ·prays [prays earnestly; L wrestles/struggles in prayer] for you that you will ·grow to be spiritually mature [or stand complete/perfect] and ·confident that you are in God’s will [L fully assured in all the will of God]. 13 I ·know [can testify/bear witness that] he has worked hard for you and ·the people [or the churches; L those] in Laodicea [2:1] and in Hierapolis [C a city north of Colossae, in present-day southwest Turkey]. 14 Demas [2 Tim. 4:10; Philem. 24] and our ·dear [beloved] friend Luke [2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24], the doctor, greet you.
15 Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea [2:1]. And greet Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 16 After this letter is read to you, be sure it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter ·that I wrote to [L from] Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus [Philem. 2], “Be sure to ·finish [fulfill] the ·work [ministry; service] ·the Lord gave you [L you received in the Lord].”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember ·me in prison [L my chains]. Grace be with you.
Footnotes
- Colossians 4:8 so… are Some Greek copies read “so he may know how you are.”
歌罗西书 4
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
歌罗西书 4
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
4 你们作主人的，要公平地对待仆人，因为知道你们也有一位主在天上。
训勉的话
2 你们要恒切祷告，在祷告的时候存着感恩的心警醒； 3 也要为我们祷告，求 神为我们开传道的门，宣讲基督的奥秘（我就是为了这个缘故被捆锁）， 4 使我照着我所应当说的，把这奥秘显明出来。 5 你们要把握时机，用智慧与外人来往。 6 你们的话要常常温和，好象是用盐调和的，使你们知道应当怎样回答各人。
问候的话
7 我的一切景况，推基古会告诉你们。他是我所爱的弟兄，是忠心的仆役，也是在主里同作仆人的。 8 我派他到你们那里去，使你们知道我们的景况，并且安慰你们的心。 9 他是跟欧尼西慕一同去的。欧尼西慕是忠心的亲爱的弟兄，是你们那里的人。他们会把这里的一切告诉你们。
10 与我一同坐监的亚里达古，和巴拿巴的表弟马可，问候你们。（关于马可，你们已经受了吩咐：他若到你们那里，你们要接待他。） 11 别号犹士都的耶数，也问候你们。在受过割礼的人中，只有这几位是为 神的国与我同工的，他们也成了我的安慰。 12 以巴弗问候你们，他是你们那里的人，是基督耶稣的仆人；他祷告的时候，常常竭力为你们祈求，好使你们在 神的一切旨意中完全站稳，满有坚定的信念。 13 我可以为他作证，他为了你们和在老底嘉、希拉波立的人，多受劳苦。 14 亲爱的路加医生和底马问候你们。 15 请问候在老底嘉的弟兄和宁法，以及在她家里的教会。 16 这封信你们宣读了以后，也要交给老底嘉的教会宣读；你们也要读老底嘉的那封信。 17 你们要对亚基布说：“你要留心在主里领受的职分，好把它完成。”
18 我保罗亲笔问候你们。你们要记念我的捆锁。愿恩惠与你们同在。
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Chinese New Version (Simplified) (CNVS)
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.