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

Further Instructions

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[a] 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 Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand 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 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when 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 Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Footnotes:

1. Colossians 4:7 Greek fellow bondservant; also verse 12
2. Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters

Cross references:

1. Colossians 4:2 : For ver. 2-4, see Eph. 6:18-20
2. Colossians 4:2 : ch. 2:7
3. Colossians 4:3 : See Acts 14:27
4. Colossians 4:3 : See Rom. 16:25
5. Colossians 4:3 : ver. 18; Eph. 6:20; See Phil. 1:7
6. Colossians 4:5 : See Eph. 5:15-17
7. Colossians 4:5 : See Mark 4:11
8. Colossians 4:6 : ch. 3:16
9. Colossians 4:6 : See Mark 9:50
10. Colossians 4:6 : 1 Pet. 3:15
11. Colossians 4:7 : For ver. 7-9, see Eph. 6:21, 22
12. Colossians 4:9 : Philem. 10
13. Colossians 4:9 : Philem. 16
14. Colossians 4:10 : Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Philem. 24; [Rom. 16:7]
15. Colossians 4:10 : See Acts 15:37, 39
16. Colossians 4:10 : [2 Tim. 4:11]
17. Colossians 4:11 : [Acts 1:23; 18:7]
18. Colossians 4:11 : See Acts 11:2
19. Colossians 4:11 : [Philem. 7]
20. Colossians 4:12 : ch. 1:7; Philem. 23
21. Colossians 4:12 : See Rom. 15:30
22. Colossians 4:12 : See Matt. 5:48
23. Colossians 4:14 : 2 Tim. 4:11; See Acts 16:10
24. Colossians 4:14 : 2 Tim. 4:10; Philem. 24
25. Colossians 4:15 : See Rom. 16:5
26. Colossians 4:16 : 1 Thess. 5:27
27. Colossians 4:17 : Philem. 2
28. Colossians 4:17 : 2 Tim. 4:5
29. Colossians 4:18 : See 1 Cor. 16:21
30. Colossians 4:18 : [Heb. 13:3]
31. Colossians 4:18 : ver. 3; See Phil. 1:7
32. Colossians 4:18 : 1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:22; [Titus 3:15]