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Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. Do it because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. 3:18–4:1 Earlier Paul gave instructions about how believers were to live together in God's family. They were to put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were clothes. Paul showed how they were to do this within their human families as well. His instructions were different from what was common in Roman lands in his time. It was common for women, children and slaves to be taught to obey. Yet Paul taught believers to base their relationships on serving Jesus. Everyone was to follow Jesus' example of being a leader who serves. Paul taught husbands to show love. He taught fathers to show kindness. He taught masters to be humble and fair. And he reminded all believers that they are slaves of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the Master they must all obey.
2 Give a lot of time and effort to prayer. Always be watchful and thankful. 3 Pray 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. 4 Pray that I will preach it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let 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.
4:2–6 In chapter 1 Paul had told the Colossian believers about his prayers for them. Here he asked them to pray for him and those who worked with him. This showed what a humble leader Paul was. He wanted the Colossians to be partners with him in his work. Even though they had never met one another, they could be joined together through prayer. Paul encouraged the Colossians to be wise in how they spoke and acted. Their words were to be full of grace as they answered questions about Jesus.
7 Tychicus 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. 8 I 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. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother. He is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 Aristarchus 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.
11 Jesus, 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.
12 Epaphras 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. 13 I am happy to tell you that he is working very hard for you. He is also working hard for everyone in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, sends greetings. So does Demas.
15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Also give my greetings to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After 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.
17 Tell Archippus, ‘Be sure that you complete the work the Lord gave you to do.’
18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I am being held by chains. May grace be with you.
4:7–18 Paul mentioned several of the people who worked together with him. Most of them were Gentiles like Onesimus. Many Jewish believers opposed Paul for preaching that Jesus welcomed Gentiles into God's family. That was why he was in prison at that time. So it was comforting to Paul to have Jews like John Mark and Justus work with him. Paul also mentioned several people in churches near Colossae. All these men and women respected and cared deeply for one another. Paul was giving an example of God's people living in peace as one body. Paul's letter ended with instructions to the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. It was common practice for the churches to share his letters. This was another way Paul encouraged believers to be bound together in love.