Colossians 4
a 1 Lords,b provide to your enslaved workers what is just and equitable, since you understand that you have a divine Lord.
2 Give consistent attention to prayer, being vigilant about it with gratitude. 3 While you do that, be praying about us too, that God may open for us a door for the message—to speak the mystery of the Christ—because of which I am bound, 4 and that I might reveal it, for me to speak it as I must. 5 Walk with wisdom for those who are outside, earning that opportunity.c 6 May your message always be given with generosity, seasoned with salt, since you understand how it is necessary for you to respond to everyone.
7 Tychicus, beloved member of the Family and faithful servant and fellow enslaved worker underd Christ, will let you know everything about me. 8 That’s the reason I sent him to you, so you may know about us and that he may motivate you.e 9 With him is Onesimus, the faithful and beloved member of the Family, who is one of you.f They will let you know about everything here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, wishes you well,g as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received direction: if he comes to you, welcome him). 11 Also, Jesus, the one called Justus. Of those who are from the circumcision group, these are the only fellow workers in God’s Reign, and they have become a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and enslaved to Christ, wishes you well. He is always contending on your behalf with his prayers, that you may be established as mature and having been filled up with everything God wants; 13 I can testify for him that he strives diligentlyh on your behalf and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas wish you well. 15 Wish the members of the Family in Laodicea and Nympha and the assembly at her house well. 16 When this letter has been read to you, make sure that it is also read in the assembly of Laodiceans and that you also read the one from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “See that you complete the service which you took on regarding the lord.”
18 The well wishes are written by my own hand, by Paul. Remember my bonds. Good fortunei be with you.
FOOTNOTES:
a This verse (Colossians 4:1) is a continuation of the paragraph at the end of chapter 3. The chapter break here is misleading, as these verses should be read together.
b Traditionally, ‘masters.’ The word here is referring to human authority figures who owned enslaved workers as property.
c This clause is difficult to translate. The verb exagorazo is ‘to buy from’ or ‘to get from the marketplace’ and is frequently used to refer to purchasing freedom of an enslaved person in scripture, metaphorically or otherwise. Ton kairon is something about the specific moment or opportune time. Together, it seems to be ‘buying the moment,’ more or less. In context, ‘earning that opportunity’ seems to work.
d The meaning of en here is most likely a “preposition of reference/respect.” Using the phrase, ‘fellow enslaved worker with reference to Christ’ seems absurdly awkward, however. ‘Under Christ’ is being used to convey the idea of being under the umbrella of things related to Christ, as well as it works in context with the idea of being under Christ’s authority.
e Literally, ‘he may call aside/to his side your hearts.’ The heart represented desires, priorities, and motivations. Something like ‘support your hearts’ may be a bit closer, and ‘support your motivations/priorities’ closer still. Therefore, ‘motivate you’ seems to make the most sense and state it in the most natural way in English.
f From Colossae
g Literally, ‘embraces you in greeting’
h More literally, ‘holds large toil.’ Maybe ‘takes great pains’ would be close.
i Traditionally, ‘grace.’ This word can be translated many ways, but the core meaning has to do with good things happening or being given without effort to generate them by those who receive them. It is not explicitly a religious term in the original language. It has been translated frequently as ‘generosity’ throughout this translation of Colossians.