Προς Κολοσσαεις 4

1 οι κυριοι το δικαιον και την ισοτητα τοισ δουλοισ παρεχεσθε ειδοτεσ οτι και υμεισ εχετε κυριον εν ουρανοισ

Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven.

2 τη προσευχη προσκαρτερειτε γρηγορουντεσ εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;

3 προσευχομενοι αμα και περι ημων ινα ο θεοσ ανοιξη ημιν θυραν του λογου λαλησαι το μυστηριον του χριστου δι ο και δεδεμαι

and at the same time pray for us, so that God may give us an opening for our message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ – the truths for which I am in chains!

4 ινα φανερωσω αυτο ωσ δει με λαλησαι

Then I will make them known, as I ought to do.

5 εν σοφια περιπατειτε προσ τουσ εξω τον καιρον εξαγοραζομενοι

Show tact in your behavior to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.

6 ο λογοσ υμων παντοτε εν χαριτι αλατι ηρτυμενοσ ειδεναι πωσ δει υμασ ενι εκαστω αποκρινεσθαι

Let your conversation always be kindly, but not bland, season it, as it were, with salt; be aware in each case of the answer you should be giving.

7 τα κατ εμε παντα γνωρισει υμιν τυχικοσ ο αγαπητοσ αδελφοσ και πιστοσ διακονοσ και συνδουλοσ εν κυριω

Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause.

8 ον επεμψα προσ υμασ εισ αυτο τουτο ινα γνω τα περι υμων και παρακαλεση τασ καρδιασ υμων

I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.

9 συν ονησιμω τω πιστω και αγαπητω αδελφω οσ εστιν εξ υμων παντα υμιν γνωριουσιν τα ωδε

With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.

10 ασπαζεται υμασ αρισταρχοσ ο συναιχμαλωτοσ μου και μαρκοσ ο ανεψιοσ βαρναβα περι ου ελαβετε εντολασ εαν ελθη προσ υμασ δεξασθε αυτον

My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas’s cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.)

11 και ιησουσ ο λεγομενοσ ιουστοσ οι οντεσ εκ περιτομησ ουτοι μονοι συνεργοι εισ την βασιλειαν του θεου οιτινεσ εγενηθησαν μοι παρηγορια

Joshua, who is called Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the kingdom of God; I have found them a great comfort.

12 ασπαζεται υμασ επαφρασ ο εξ υμων δουλοσ χριστου παντοτε αγωνιζομενοσ υπερ υμων εν ταισ προσευχαισ ινα στητε τελειοι και πεπληρωμενοι εν παντι θεληματι του θεου

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God’s will.

13 μαρτυρω γαρ αυτω οτι εχει ζηλον πολυν υπερ υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και των εν ιεραπολει

I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.

14 ασπαζεται υμασ λουκασ ο ιατροσ ο αγαπητοσ και δημασ

Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.

15 ασπασασθε τουσ εν λαοδικεια αδελφουσ και νυμφαν και την κατ οικον αυτου εκκλησιαν

Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house.

16 και οταν αναγνωσθη παρ υμιν η επιστολη ποιησατε ινα και εν τη λαοδικαιων εκκλησια αναγνωσθη και την εκ λαοδικειασ ινα και υμεισ αναγνωτε

And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read before the church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there.

17 και ειπατε αρχιππω βλεπε την διακονιαν ην παρελαβεσ εν κυριω ινα αυτην πληροισ

Give this message to Archippus – ‘Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master’s cause.’

18 ο ασπασμοσ τη εμη χειρι παυλου μνημονευετε μου των δεσμων η χαρισ μεθ υμων αμην

I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.