He recommends constant prayer and wisdom. Various salutations.
4:1. Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal: knowing
that you also have a master in heaven.
4:2. Be instant in prayer: watching in it with thanksgiving.
4:3. Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us a door of
speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound):
4:4. That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.
4:5. Walk with wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the
time.
4:6. Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you
may know how you ought to answer every man.
4:7. All the things that concern me, Tychicus, our dearest brother and
faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will make known to
you.
4:8. Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that he may know
the things that concern you and comfort your hearts:
4:9. With Onesimus, a most beloved and faithful brother, who is one of
you. All things that are done here, they shall make known to you.
4:10. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you: and Mark, the
cousin german of Barnabas, touching whom you have received
commandments. If he come unto you, receive him.
4:11. And Jesus that is called Justus: who are of the circumcision.
These only are my helpers, in the kingdom of God: who have been a
comfort to me.
4:12. Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand
perfect and full in all the will of God.
4:13. For I bear him testimony that he hath much labour for you and for
them that are at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis.
4:14. Luke, the most dear physician, saluteth you: and Demas.
4:15. Salute the brethren who are at Laodicea: and Nymphas and the
church that is in his house.
4:16. And when this epistle shall have been read with you, cause that
it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that you read that
which is of the Laodiceans.
And that you read that which is of the Laodiceans.... What this epistle
was is uncertain, and annotators have given different opinions
concerning it. Some expound these words of an epistle which St. Paul
wrote to the Laodiceans, and is since lost, for that now extant is no
more than a collection of sentences out of the other epistles of St.
Paul; therefore it cannot be considered even as a part of that epistle.
Others explain that the text means a letter sent to St. Paul by the
Laodiceans, which he sends to the Colossians to be read by them.
However, this opinion does not seem well founded. Hence it is more
probable that St. Paul wrote an epistle from Rome to the Laodiceans,
about the same time that he wrote to the Colossians, as he had them
both equally at heart, and that he ordered that epistle to be read by
the Colossians for their instructions; and being neighbouring cities,
they might communicate to each other what they had received from him;
as one epistle might contain some matters not related in the other, and
would be equally useful for their concern; and more particularly as
they were equally disturbed by intruders and false teachers, against
which the apostle was anxious to warn them, lest they should be
infected by their pernicious doctrine.
4:17. And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast
received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
4:18. The salutation of Paul with my own hand. Be mindful of my bands.
Grace be with you. Amen.