Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; 3praying together for us also, that God1 may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of AL-MASIH2, 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 slave in the Lord3. 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 commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11and Isa who is called Justus, who are Jews4. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of AL-MASIH, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature 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, and Nymphas, and the congregation that is in his house. 16When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the congregation 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.”
18The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
- 4:3 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
- 4:3 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH. Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎
- 4:7 Lord, translated from the Greek kurios. Depending on context, it can refer to: 1. God, 2. ’ISA AL-MASIH, 3. men in authority, such as kings, landlords, etc., 4. a respectful salutation meaning, “sir.” ↩︎
- 4:11 Jews, literally, “of the circumcision.” ↩︎