Colossians 4

1Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. Do it because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

More Teachings 2Give a lot of time and effort to prayer. Always be watchful and thankful. 3Pray for us too. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to preach our message. Then we can preach the mystery of Christ. Because I preached it, I am being held by chains. 4Pray that I will preach it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity.

6Let the words you speak always be full of grace. Learn how to make your words what people want to hear. Then you will know how to answer everyone.

Final Greetings 7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother. He is a faithful worker. He serves the Lord together with us. 8I am sending him to you for one reason. I want you to know what is happening here. I want him to encourage you and make your hearts strong.

9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother. He is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10Aristarchus is in prison with me. He sends you his greetings. So does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have been given directions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him.

11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. They are the only Jews who have worked together with me for God’s kingdom. They have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras sends greetings. He is one of you. He serves Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you. He prays that you will hold on tightly to all that God has in mind for us. He prays that you will keep growing in your knowledge of what God wants. He also prays that you will be completely sure about it.

13I am happy to tell you that he is working very hard for you. He is also working hard for everyone in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, sends greetings. So does Demas.

15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Also give my greetings to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

16After this letter has been read to you, send it on. Be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea.

17Tell Archippus, “Be sure that you complete the work the Lord gave you to do.” 18I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I am being held by chains. May grace be with you.