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Colossians 4

1Masters, provide your slaves with what is just and fair, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

2Persist in prayer, staying awake in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray for us too, that God may open a door for the word, for us to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4so that I may make it known as I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the opportunity. 6Let your speech always have grace, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you ought to answer each person.

7Tychicus, our beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you everything about my circumstances. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and he may encourage your hearts, 9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother who is one of you. They will tell you everything about what is happening here.

10Aristarchus, my fellow captive, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. You have received instructions about him: if he comes to you, welcome him. 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only ones of the circumcision who are my fellow workers for God's kingdom, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ, sends you greetings. He is always struggling for you in his prayers, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all God's will. 13For I testify about him that he labors hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

15Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nympha and the assembly in her house. 16When this letter has been read among you, arrange for it to be read in the Laodiceans' assembly too, and for you also to read the letter from Laodicea. 17And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the service you received in the Lord, so that you fulfill it.”

18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul's. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.

Translation notes 6

4:1 — Justice and fairness. This continues 3:22–25's instructions to slaves and masters. “Fair” translates a word that can mean equality or equitable treatment. The command does not explicitly grant emancipation; neither does it remove the masters' accountability to their own Master.

4:2–6 — Prayer and speech. Staying awake includes being watchful in prayer. The “door” is an opportunity to speak. “Those outside” are people outside the community. The salt image describes speech with fitting flavor or quality; no one narrow explanation of the image is certain.

4:7–9 — The messengers. “Servant” and “fellow slave” preserve distinct Greek terms. At verse 8 the base says that you may know about us; another reading says that he may know about you. Onesimus is called a brother and one of the recipients' own people; his legal circumstances are not stated here.

4:10–14 — Fellow workers. Mark is called Barnabas's cousin, not nephew. “Of the circumcision” identifies Jewish coworkers; “only” is limited to that group of coworkers, not every person helping Paul. “Mature” and “struggling” repeat language from 1:28–29. Verse 12 follows the base's shorter “Christ,” where other editions have “Christ Jesus.”

4:15 — Nympha. The base reads the woman's name Nympha and “her house.” Other readings have the male name Nymphas with “his house,” or “their house.” “Brothers” includes the women of the community.

4:16–18 — Letters and handwriting. The letter “from Laodicea” is to reach the readers from there; this expression does not identify its author or establish which surviving letter it might be. “Service” in verse 17 is an entrusted responsibility, without specifying an office. The closing identifies Paul's own handwriting; the base does not include a final “Amen.”