Colossians 4

Rules for Christian Households

1 Masters, treat your slaves 1 justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

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

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

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus will tell you m all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant 2 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 n Onesimus, our faithful and o beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 p Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark q the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions - r if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called s Justus. t These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and u they have been a comfort to me. 12 v Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always w struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand x 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 y Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does z Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers 3 at Laodicea, and to Nympha and a the church in her house. 16 And when b 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 c Archippus, "See that you fulfill d the ministry that you have received in the Lord."

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

  1. Cross References
    Colossians 4:2 - 4
    Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
    Ephesians 6:18 - 20
    Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
  2. Cross References
    Colossians 2:7
    Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 14:27
    And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 16:25
    Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
  5. Cross References
    Colossians 4:18
    I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
    Ephesians 6:20
    For which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
    Philippians 1:7
    It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
  6. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:15 - 17
    Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.
  7. Cross References
    Mark 4:11
    And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables.
  8. Cross References
    Colossians 3:16
    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
  9. Cross References
    Mark 9:50
    Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
  10. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:15
    But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
  11. Cross References
    Colossians 4:7 - 9
    Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
    Ephesians 6:21 - 22
    So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.
  12. Cross References
    Philemon 1:10
    I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
  13. Cross References
    Philemon 1:16
    No longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother - especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 19:29
    So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.
    Acts 20:4
    Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
    Acts 27:2
    And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
    Philemon 1:24
    And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
    Romans 16:7
    Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 15:37
    Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
    Acts 15:39
    And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
  16. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:11
    Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
  17. Cross References
    Acts 1:23
    And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
    Acts 18:7
    And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 11:2
    So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying.
  19. Cross References
    Philemon 1:7
    For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
  20. Cross References
    Colossians 1:7
    Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
    Philemon 1:23
    Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you.
  21. Cross References
    Romans 15:30
    I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 5:48
    You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  23. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:11
    Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
    Acts 16:10
    And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
  24. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:10
    For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
    Philemon 1:24
    And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
  25. Cross References
    Romans 16:5
    Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
  26. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:27
    I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
  27. Cross References
    Philemon 1:2
    And Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
  28. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:5
    As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
  29. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:21
    I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
  30. Cross References
    Hebrews 13:3
    Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
  31. Cross References
    Colossians 4:3
    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 -
    Philippians 1:7
    It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
  32. Cross References
    1 Timothy 6:21
    For by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
    2 Timothy 4:22
    The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
    Titus 3:15
    All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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