Colossians 4

KJV · Chapter 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.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul concludes the letter by asking for perseverance in prayer and wisdom in dealing with those outside the church. He sends final greetings through several coworkers, including Tychicus and Onesimus, and asks that the letter also be read in the neighboring church of Laodicea.

Explanation

The final instructions about persevering prayer and wisdom in dealing with "those outside" show Paul's concern for the church's public witness before society at large, encouraging speech that is always "gracious, seasoned with salt" — that is, appealing, yet also substantive and purposeful. The mention of Onesimus, a "faithful brother" (v. 9), is significant: this was the same runaway slave mentioned in Paul's personal letter to Philemon, suggesting that he was returning to Colossae reconciled and now recognized as a brother in the faith, a living example of the social transformation the gospel brought about. The instruction to exchange letters with the church of Laodicea reveals how the early Christian communities actively shared apostolic correspondence with one another. The practical application today involves both intentionality in prayer and care in how we relate to and communicate with people outside the community of faith.

Fun facts

Onesimus, briefly mentioned here (v. 9), is the same central figure of the letter to Philemon, a runaway slave whom Paul sent back to his master, but now as a 'beloved brother,' illustrating one of the most touching personal stories in the New Testament.
The 'letter from Laodicea' mentioned in verse 16, which Paul asks to also be read in Colossae, is a letter that has been lost to time, generating centuries of speculation among scholars about its contents — some believe it could have been a copy of the letter to the Ephesians itself.

Verse-by-verse explanation

Colossians 4:1After asking for obedience from slaves in the previous chapter, Paul now holds masters accountable: fair and balanced treatment, reminding them that they too answer to a Master in heaven. This is not a call to abolish slavery as an institution, but a demand that a master’s power over a slave not be used without limit.
Colossians 4:2Paul calls for perseverance in prayer, describing it as something that requires attention and active watchfulness, always accompanied by gratitude.
Colossians 4:3Paul asks that they also pray for him and his companions, specifically for an opportunity (a “door”) to proclaim the mystery of Christ, the very reason he is in prison.
Colossians 4:4Paul specifies his prayer request: that he may be able to present this message with the clarity it truly needs.
Colossians 4:5Paul asks for wisdom in dealing with people outside the faith, using the same expression as in Ephesians about making the most of every opportunity of time.
Colossians 4:6Salt was used both to add flavor and to preserve food, so the image suggests speech that is neither bland nor spoiled, but well-seasoned and carefully kept. Paul is asking for care in how they speak to people outside the faith, without losing either clarity or courtesy.
Colossians 4:7Paul introduces Tychicus, called a beloved brother and faithful co-worker, as the one who will bring the Colossians his personal news.
Colossians 4:8Paul explains the double purpose of sending Tychicus: to inform them of his situation and, at the same time, to comfort the hearts of the Colossians with this news.
Colossians 4:9Onesimus is the same runaway slave who appears as the central figure of the letter to Philemon, written by Paul around the same time and sent along with this one. Here he is already publicly introduced to the church as a “faithful brother,” which helps explain the delicate request Paul makes in his personal letter to his former master.
Colossians 4:10Paul sends greetings from two companions in prison or in work: Aristarchus, imprisoned together with him, and Mark, Barnabas’s cousin, asking that they welcome him well if he comes their way.
Colossians 4:11Paul mentions one more Jewish co-worker, Jesus called Justus, and comments that these few Jewish Christians working with him have been a great personal comfort.
Colossians 4:12Paul highlights Epaphras, the probable founder of the church at Colosse, describing his constant effort in prayer that the Colossians remain firm and mature in the will of God.
Colossians 4:13Paul confirms Epaphras’s genuine zeal, which concerns him not only for Colosse but also for the neighboring churches of Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:14Paul sends greetings from Luke, described as “the beloved physician,” probably the same author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts, and from another co-worker named Demas.
Colossians 4:15Paul asks that greetings be passed on to the Christians in neighboring Laodicea, including a woman named Nymphas and the church that met in her house.
Colossians 4:16Paul’s letters circulated among the churches: after being read at Colosse, he asks that this letter be passed on to the neighboring church at Laodicea, and that the Colossians also read a letter that had been sent there. That letter to the Laodiceans has not survived to us — it may have been lost, or perhaps it is another of Paul’s letters that we still have under a different name; no one knows for sure.
Colossians 4:17Paul gives a direct, public message to Archippus, asking him to pay attention and fulfill the specific ministry he received from the Lord.
Colossians 4:18It was common at the time to dictate a letter for a secretary to write, and to sign personally only at the end as a guarantee of authenticity, preventing forgeries. Paul makes a point of signing this farewell himself, and also asks them to remember that he is in prison while writing.

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