Colossians 4
New Matthew Bible
4 1 You masters, be just and fair to your servants, seeing you know that you also have a master in heaven.
He exhorts them to be fervent in prayer, to walk wisely with regard to persons who have not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ, and greets them.
2 Continue in prayer, and keep vigil in the same with thanksgiving, 3 praying also for us: that God would open for us the door of utterance so that we may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; 4 that I may speak it as it behoves me to do.
5 Walk wisely toward those who are without, and redeem the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace and powdered with salt, so that you may know how to answer every person.
7 The dear brother Tychicus can tell you about all my affairs. He is a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, 8 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, and to find out how you are doing, and to encourage your hearts. 9 With him is Onesimus, a faithful and a beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you; as does Mark, the son of Barnabas’ sister, concerning whom you received instructions (if he comes to you, receive him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and were to me a consolation.
12 Epaphras, the servant of Christ who is one of you, greets you, and always labours fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and full in all that is the will of God. 13 I can attest that he has a fervent mind toward you, and toward the people of Laodicea and of Hieropolis.
14 Dear Luke the physician greets you, and Demas.
15 Greet the brethren who are of Laodicea, and greet Nymphas and the congregation that is in his house. 16 And when the epistle has been read by you, ensure that it is read in the congregation of the Laodiceans also, and that you likewise read the Laodiceans’ epistle. 17 And say to Archippus: Take heed to the office that you have received in the Lord, to fulfil it.
18 The greeting by the hand of me, Paul.
Remember my bonds. Grace
be with you.
Amen.
Sent from Rome by the hand
of Tychicus and
Onesimus.
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.
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
1599 Geneva Bible
4 2 He returneth to general exhortations, 3 touching prayer and gracious speech, 7and so endeth with greetings and commendations.
1 Ye masters, do unto your servants, that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.
2 (A)[a][b]Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,
3 (B)[c]Praying also for us, that God may open unto us the [d]door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ: wherefore I am also in bonds,
4 That I may utter it, as it becometh me to speak.
5 ¶ (C)[e]Walk [f]wisely toward them that are without, and redeem the [g]season.
6 [h]Let your speech be [i]gracious always, and powdered with [j]salt, that ye may know how to answer every man.
7 ¶ Tychicus our beloved brother and faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, shall declare unto you my whole state:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose that he might know your state, and might comfort your hearts,
9 With Onesimus a faithful and a beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall show you of all things here.
10 Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you, and Marcus, Barnabas’s cousin (touching whom ye received commandments: If he come unto you, receive him.)
11 And Jesus which is called Justus, which are of the circumcision. These [k]only are my work-fellows unto the [l]kingdom of God, which have been unto my consolation.
12 Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always striveth for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect, and full in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and for them of Laodicea, and them of Hierapolis,
14 (D)Luke the beloved physician greeteth you, and Demas.
15 Salute the brethren which are of Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house.
16 And when this Epistle is read of you, cause that it be read in the Church of the Laodiceans also, and that ye likewise read the Epistle written from Laodicea,
17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry, that thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bands. Grace be with you, Amen.
¶ Written from Rome to the Colossians, and sent by Tychicus, and Onesimus.
Footnotes
- Colossians 4:2 He addeth certain general exhortations and at length endeth his Epistle with divers familiar and godly salutations.
- Colossians 4:2 Prayers must be continual and earnest.
- Colossians 4:3 Such as minister the word, must especially be commended to the prayers of the Church.
- Colossians 4:3 An open and free mouth to preach the Gospel.
- Colossians 4:5 In all parts of our life, we ought to have good consideration even of them which are without the Church.
- Colossians 4:5 Advisedly and circumspectly.
- Colossians 4:5 Seek occasion to win them, although you lose of your own by it.
- Colossians 4:6 Our speech and talk must be applied to the profit of the hearers.
- Colossians 4:6 Framed to the profit of your neighbor.
- Colossians 4:6 Against this is set filthy communication, as Eph. 4:29.
- Colossians 4:11 Why then, Peter was not at that time at Rome.
- Colossians 4:11 In the Gospel.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
