Colossians 4

KJV · Capítulo 4/4

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

2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

7All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

8Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

📖 Estudo do capítulo

Resumo

Paulo conclui a carta pedindo perseverança em oração e sabedoria no trato com pessoas de fora da igreja. Ele envia saudações finais através de vários colaboradores, incluindo Tíquico e Onésimo, e pede que a carta seja também lida na igreja vizinha de Laodiceia.

Explicação

As instruções finais sobre oração perseverante e sabedoria ao lidar com “os que estão de fora” mostram a preocupação de Paulo com o testemunho público da igreja diante da sociedade em geral, incentivando uma fala “sempre agradável, adubada com sal” — ou seja, atraente, mas também com substância e propósito. A menção de Onésimo, “fiel irmão” (v.9), é significativa: esse era o mesmo escravo fugitivo mencionado na carta pessoal de Paulo a Filemom, sugerindo que ele retornava a Colossos reconciliado e agora reconhecido como irmão na fé, um exemplo vivo da transformação social que o evangelho promovia. A instrução para trocar cartas com a igreja de Laodiceia revela como as comunidades cristãs primitivas compartilhavam ativamente correspondência apostólica entre si. A aplicação prática hoje envolve tanto a intencionalidade na oração quanto o cuidado com a forma de se relacionar e comunicar com pessoas fora da comunidade de fé.

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