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Colossians 4

Paul joins persistent prayer and gracious speech to the shared work of churches whose messengers carry news, comfort, and instruction.

Paul writes from imprisonment to the believers in Colossae, closing his letter with instructions and news of fellow workers. He tells masters to treat their servants with justice, then calls the church to persistent prayer and wise speech toward outsiders. Tychicus and Onesimus will bring news and comfort. The closing greetings show a network of workers and nearby churches, with instructions to exchange letters and a final request to remember Paul’s chains.

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1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,
3praying 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,
4that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”),
11and 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.
12Epaphras, 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.
13For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house.
16When 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.
17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Colossians 4:6Gracious speech belongs to wise conduct toward outsiders, with attention to how each person should be answered.
Colossians 4:2Paul calls for watchful, thankful prayer before asking the church to pray for his own proclamation of Christ.
Colossians 4:12Epaphras embodies the chapter’s call to persistent prayer, laboring for the church to stand mature in God’s will.
Where this chapter reaches

Ephesians shares Paul’s request for prayer as he proclaims Christ in chains, and names Tychicus as a messenger bringing news and comfort. 1 Thessalonians shares the call to persistent prayer with thanksgiving and concern for believers to stand firm before God.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do Paul’s prayer requests and Epaphras’s prayers bring into focus for your own prayers?

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Where might speech shaped by grace change how you answer someone outside the church?

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Questions people ask about Colossians 4

What does “seasoned with salt” mean in Colossians 4:6?

Paul uses salt as an image for speech marked by grace and suited to the person being answered. The surrounding verses concern wise conduct toward outsiders. The image suggests speech with substance and good judgment; Paul does not spell out a separate meaning for every property of salt.

What is the letter from Laodicea in Colossians 4:16?

Paul tells the Colossians to read a letter coming from Laodicea and to send their own letter there for reading. He does not identify the other letter’s contents or author here. Its identity remains uncertain, though the instruction shows that these churches were to share letters for public reading.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).