Colossians 4

1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,

3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,

4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”),

11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house.

16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Around Colossians 4

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Colossians 4 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

The letter is nearly done, and it ends with people. Masters are told to give their servants what is just and fair. Then a call to prayer: pray that God will open a door for the word, “for which I am also in bonds”. Paul asks his readers to walk in wisdom toward those outside, and says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt”.

Then come the names. Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful servant, will tell them everything, and with him comes Onesimus, who is one of them. Aristarchus, Mark the cousin of Barnabas, Jesus who is called Justus, Epaphras who is always striving for them in prayer, “Luke the beloved physician”, and Demas send greetings. Greet the church that meets in the house of Nymphas, and let this letter be read at Laodicea too.

Paul closes with his own hand: “Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

Background

Paul writes from prison to the church at Colossae. Onesimus here is the same name as in the letter to Philemon. Paul speaks of a letter from Laodicea, and the text does not say which letter that is; it may be lost. For Laodicea see also Revelation 3 and Colossians 2:1. Tradition holds that Paul wrote the letter, and some scholars question it.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 17 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes