Colossians · Chapter 4
Colossians 4
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
Prayerful Speech and Actions
1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Greetings from Paul’s Fellow Workers
(Romans 16:21–23)
7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
9With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
13For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
Signature and Final Instructions
(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18)
15Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.
16After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.*
Source notes
- 4:18 BYZ and TR include Amen.
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Leviticus 19:13You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.
Leviticus 25:39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
Leviticus 25:40Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
Leviticus 25:41Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.
Leviticus 25:42Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.
Leviticus 25:43You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.
Deuteronomy 15:12If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free.
Deuteronomy 15:13And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.
Deuteronomy 15:14You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 15:15Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.
Deuteronomy 24:14Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
Deuteronomy 24:15You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.