Colossians

By chapter:

Colossians 1

7            Colossians 4:12; Philemon 23
14          Ephesians 1:7
15-20    John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:2-4
17          Job 34:14-15; Proverbs 8:22-31; Wisdom 11:25
18          Ephesians 1:22-23
20          Matthew 6:10; Ephesians 2:16

12           Francis Patrick Sullivan, “A Life for a Life,” A Time To Sow, p. 203
13-20    John Michael Talbot, “Colossians Canticle,” Chant from the Hermitage, p. track 9
15-20    Wendell Berry, “The Hidden Singer,” Collected Poems, p. 208

“The Hidden Singer”

The gods are less
for their love of praise.
Above and below them all
is a spirit that needs
nothing but its own
wholeness
its health and ours.
It has made all things
by dividing itself.
It will be whole again.
To its joy we come
together—the seer
and the seen the eater
and the eaten, the lover
and the loved.
In our joining it knows
itself. It is with us then,
not as the gods
whose names crest
in unearthly fire,
but as a little bird
hidden in the leaves
who sings quietly
and waits
and sings.

15-20     Jaroslav Pelikan, The Illustrated Jesus through the Centuries, p. 60-64
15-20     John Michael Talbot, “Hear Us Oh Lord,” No Longer Strangers
17            Annie Dillard, For the Time Being, p. 51

For the Time Being

The spark of goodness within things, the Gnostic-like spark that even the most evil tendency encloses, lends evil its being.

17        Denise Levertov, “The Danger Moments,” “Primary Wonder,” Sands of the Well, p. 10, 129

“The Danger Moments,” “Primary Wonder”

“The Danger Moments,”

As if the world were a thought
God was thinking and then
not thinking. Divine attention
turned away. Will breath and thought
resume?
They do, for now. (p. 10)

“Primary Wonder”

… the mystery
that there is anything, anything at all,
let alone cosmos, joy, memory, everything,
rather than void: and that, O Lord,
Creator, Hallowed One, You still,
hour by hour sustain it. (p. 129)

19-20     Rabindranath Tagore, “The Other Shore,” Tales of the City of God, p. 33

“The Other Shore”

In truth, oh Ocean of bliss! this shore
and the other shore embrace in you a single shore.
When I say, “this is my shore”
the other becomes foreign to me
and when I lose the sense
of the fullness that is in me
my anxious heart claims “the other shore.”
All that I have and all that seems alien to me
wait eagerly to be reconciled forever in your love.

20-22    John Shea, “A Prayer for Peace,” The God who Fell from Heaven, p. 74
20          Denise Levertov, “On a Theme from Julian[of Norwich]’s Chapter XX,” Breathing the Water, p. 68

“On a Theme from Julian[of Norwich]’s Chapter XX”

The oneing, she saw, The oneing
with the godhead opened Him utterly
to the pain of all minds, all bodies

20        Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, p. 177

Everything Belongs

The price we pay for holding together these opposites is always some form of crucifixion. Jesus himself was crucified between a good thief and a bad thief, hanging between heaven and earth, holding on to both his humanity and his divinity, a male body with a feminine soul, expelled as the problem by both religion and state. He rejected none of these, but “reconciled all things in himself.”

27       Gerald Manley Hopkins, “As kingfishers catch fire,” Poems and Prose, p. 51

“As kingfishers catch fire”

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is
Christ—for Christ plays in ten thousand places
Lovely in limbs and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of man’s faces.

27     Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Man Hunt,” A Time To Sow, p. 154

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing — so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.  17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.  19 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, 23 provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints.  27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  28 Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.  29 For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me.

1:1 παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου δια θεληματος θεου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος

1:2 τοις εν βαγιοις και πιστοις αδελφοις εν χριστω

χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου

1:3 ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω και πατρι του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου παντοτε περι υμων προσευχομενοι 1:4 ακουσαντες την πιστιν υμων εν χριστω ιησου και την αγαπην την εις παντας τους αγιους 1:5 δια την ελπιδα την αποκειμενην υμιν εν τοις ουρανοις ην προηκουσατε εν τω λογω της αληθειας του ευαγγελιου 1:6 του παροντος εις υμας καθως και εν παντι τω κοσμω και εστιν καρποφορουμενον [και αυξανομενον] καθως και εν υμιν αφ ης ημερας ηκουσατε και επεγνωτε την χαριν του θεου εν αληθεια 1:7 καθως και εμαθετε απο επαφρα του αγαπητου συνδουλου ημων ος εστιν πιστος υπερ υμων διακονος του χριστου 1:8 ο και δηλωσας ημιν την υμων αγαπην εν πνευματι

1:9 δια τουτο και ημεις αφ ης ημερας ηκουσαμεν ου παυομεθα υπερ υμων προσευχομενοι και αιτουμενοι ινα πληρωθητε την επιγνωσιν του θεληματος αυτου εν παση σοφια και συνεσει πνευματικη 1:10 περιπατησαι υμας αξιως του κυριου εις πασαν αρεσκειαν εν παντι εργω αγαθω καρποφορουντες και αυξανομενοι εις την επιγνωσιν του θεου 1:11 εν παση δυναμει δυναμουμενοι κατα το κρατος της δοξης αυτου εις πασαν υπομονην και μακροθυμιαν μετα χαρας 1:12 ευχαριστουντες τω πατρι τω ικανωσαντι ημας εις την μεριδα του κληρου των αγιων εν τω φωτι 1:13 ος ερρυσατο ημας εκ της εξουσιας του σκοτους και μετεστησεν εις την βασιλειαν του υιου της αγαπης αυτου 1:14 εν ω εχομεν την απολυτρωσιν [δια του αιματος αυτου] την αφεσιν των αμαρτιων

1:15 ος εστιν εικων του θεου του αορατου πρωτοτοκος πασης κτισεως 1:16 οτι εν αυτω εκτισθη τα παντα τα εν τοις ουρανοις και τα επι της γης τα ορατα και τα αορατα ειτε θρονοι ειτε κυριοτητες ειτε αρχαι ειτε εξουσιαι τα παντα δι αυτου και εις αυτον εκτισται 1:17 και αυτος εστιν προ παντων και τα παντα εν αυτω συνεστηκεν 1:18 και αυτος εστιν η κεφαλη του σωματος της εκκλησιας ος εστιν αρχη πρωτοτοκος εκ των νεκρων ινα γενηται εν πασιν αυτος πρωτευων 1:19 οτι εν αυτω ευδοκησεν παν το πληρωμα κατοικησαι 1:20 και δι αυτου αποκαταλλαξαι τα παντα εις αυτον ειρηνοποιησας δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου δι αυτου ειτε τα επι της γης ειτε τα επι τοις ουρανοις

1:21 και υμας ποτε οντας απηλλοτριωμενους και εχθρους τη διανοια εν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις νυνι δε αποκατηλλαξεν 1:22 εν τω σωματι της σαρκος αυτου δια του θανατου παραστησαι υμας αγιους και αμωμους και ανεγκλητους κατενωπιον αυτου 1:23 ειγε επιμενετε τη πιστει τεθεμελιωμενοι και εδραιοι και μη μετακινουμενοι απο της ελπιδος του ευαγγελιου ου ηκουσατε του κηρυχθεντος εν παση τη κτισει τη υπο τον ουρανον ου εγενομην εγω παυλος διακονος

1:24 νυν χαιρω εν τοις παθημασιν υπερ υμων και ανταναπληρω τα υστερηματα των θλιψεων του χριστου εν τη σαρκι μου υπερ του σωματος αυτου ο εστιν η εκκλησια 1:25 ης εγενομην εγω διακονος κατα την οικονομιαν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι εις υμας πληρωσαι τον λογον του θεου 1:26 το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου 1:27 οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τι το πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης 1:28 ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου 1:29 εις ο και κοπιω αγωνιζομενος κατα την ενεργειαν αυτου την ενεργουμενην εν εμοι εν δυναμει

Colossians 2

12    Romans 6:4
13    Ephesians 2:1-5
14    Ephesians 2:15
16    Romans 14:1-6
19    Ephesians 4:16

2-4    Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 297
4        Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 298

1 For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you, and for those at La-odice’a, and for all who have not seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, 3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with beguiling speech.  5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.  11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.  13 And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  15 He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.  17 These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.  18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines?  23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.

2:1 θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω περι υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εωρακασιν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι 2:2 ινα παρακληθωσιν αι καρδιαι αυτων συμβιβασθεντων εν αγαπη και εις παντα πλουτον της πληροφοριας της συνεσεως εις επιγνωσιν του μυστηριου του θεου και πατρος και του χριστου 2:3 εν ω εισιν παντες οι θησαυροι της σοφιας και της γνωσεως αποκρυφοι 2:4 τουτο δε λεγω ινα μη τις υμας παραλογιζηται εν πιθανολογια 2:5 ει γαρ και τη σαρκι απειμι αλλα τω πνευματι συν υμιν ειμι χαιρων και βλεπων υμων την ταξιν και το στερεωμα της εις χριστον πιστεως υμων

2:6 ως ουν παρελαβετε τον χριστον ιησουν τον κυριον εν αυτω περιπατειτε 2:7 ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

2:8 βλεπετε μη τις υμας εσται ο συλαγωγων δια της φιλοσοφιας και κενης απατης κατα την παραδοσιν των ανθρωπων κατα τα στοιχεια του κοσμου και ου κατα χριστον 2:9 οτι εν αυτω κατοικει παν το πληρωμα της θεοτητος σωματικως 2:10 και εστε εν αυτω πεπληρωμενοι ος εστιν η κεφαλη πασης αρχης και εξουσιας 2:11 εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου 2:12 συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων 2:13 και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων αβυμας συν αυτω χαρισαμενος αβπαντα τα παραπτωματα 2:14 εξαλειψας το καθ ημων χειρογραφον τοις δογμασιν ο ην υπεναντιον ημιν και αυτο ηρκεν εκ του μεσου προσηλωσας αυτο τω σταυρω 2:15 απεκδυσαμενος τας αρχας και τας εξουσιας εδειγματισεν εν παρρησια θριαμβευσας αυτους εν αυτω

2:16 μη ουν τις υμας κρινετω εν βρωσει η εν ποσει η εν μερει εορτης η νουμηνιας η σαββατων 2:17 α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα χριστου 2:18 μηδεις υμας καταβραβευετω θελων εν ταπεινοφροσυνη και θρησκεια των αγγελων α μη εωρακεν εμβατευων εικη φυσιουμενος υπο του νοος της σαρκος αυτου 2:19 και ου κρατων την κεφαλην εξ ου παν το σωμα δια των αφων και συνδεσμων επιχορηγουμενον και συμβιβαζομενον αυξει την αυξησιν του θεου

2:20 ει απεθανετε συν χριστω απο των στοιχειων του κοσμου τι ως ζωντες εν κοσμω δογματιζεσθε 2:21 μη αψη μηδε γευση μηδε θιγης 2:22 α εστιν παντα εις φθοραν τη αποχρησει κατα τα ενταλματα και διδασκαλιας των ανθρωπων 2:23 ατινα εστιν λογον μεν εχοντα σοφιας εν εθελοθρησκεια και ταπεινοφροσυνη και αφειδια σωματος ουκ εν τιμη τινι προς πλησμονην της σαρκος

Colossians 3

Colossians 3 by verse:

Colossians 3:1-17

1            Psalm 110:1
9            Ephesians 4:22
10-12    Genesis 35:2
10          Genesis 1:26; Psalm 149:4; Ephesians 4:24
12-13    Ephesians 4:2
13          Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:32
14          Matthew 5:43-48
16-17    Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Peter 3:1

3           George Herbert, “Our Life is Hid with Christ in God,” Selected Poetry, p. 132
3           Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water, p. 112

Walking on Water

If our lives are truly “hid with Christ in God,” the astounding thing is that this hiddenness is revealed in all that we do and say and write.

5-10     Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 300
9-10     Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Leading a Dog’s Life,” A Time To Sow, p. 158
11-15    Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 301
12-17    Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., “This Is My Commandment …,” Lovely in Eyes Not His, p. 173-176
16         Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Men into Mockingbirds,” A Time To Sow, p. 27
17         Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Divine Milieu, p. 50

The Divine Milieu

Nothing is more certain dogmatically, than that human action can be sanctified. ‘Whatever you do,’ says St. Paul, ‘do it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  7 In these you once walked, when you lived in them.  8 But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.  9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices 10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.  11 Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth’ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13 forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

3:1 ει ουν συνηγερθητε τω χριστω τα ανω ζητειτε ου ο χριστος εστιν εν δεξια του θεου καθημενος 3:2 τα ανω φρονειτε μη τα επι της γης 3:3 απεθανετε γαρ και η ζωη υμων κεκρυπται συν τω χριστω εν τω θεω 3:4 οταν ο χριστος φανερωθη η ζωη ημων τοτε και υμεις συν αυτω φανερωθησεσθε εν δοξη

3:5 νεκρωσατε ουν τα μελη υμων τα επι της γης πορνειαν ακαθαρσιαν παθος επιθυμιαν κακην και την πλεονεξιαν ητις εστιν ειδωλολατρεια 3:6 δι α ερχεται η οργη του θεου επι τους υιους της απειθειας 3:7 εν οις και υμεις περιεπατησατε ποτε οτε εζητε εν αυτοις 3:8 νυνι δε αποθεσθε και υμεις τα παντα οργην θυμον κακιαν βλασφημιαν αισχρολογιαν εκ του στοματος υμων 3:9 μη ψευδεσθε εις αλληλους απεκδυσαμενοι τον παλαιον ανθρωπον συν ταις πραξεσιν αυτου 3:10 και ενδυσαμενοι τον νεον τον ανακαινουμενον εις επιγνωσιν κατ εικονα του κτισαντος αυτον 3:11 οπου ουκ ενι ελλην και ιουδαιος περιτομη και ακροβυστια βαρβαρος σκυθης δουλος ελευθερος αλλα τα παντα και εν πασιν χριστος

3:12 ενδυσασθε ουν ως εκλεκτοι του θεου αγιοι και ηγαπημενοι σπλαγχνα οικτιρμου χρηστοτητα ταπεινοφροσυνην πραοτητα μακροθυμιαν 3:13 ανεχομενοι αλληλων και χαριζομενοι εαυτοις εαν τις προς τινα εχη μομφην καθως και ο χριστος εχαρισατο υμιν ουτως και υμεις 3:14 επι πασιν δε τουτοις την αγαπην ητις εστιν συνδεσμος της τελειοτητος 3:15 και η ειρηνη του θεου βραβευετω εν ταις καρδιαις υμων εις ην και εκληθητε εν ενι σωματι και ευχαριστοι γινεσθε 3:16 ο λογος του χριστου ενοικειτω εν υμιν πλουσιως εν παση σοφια διδασκοντες και νουθετουντες εαυτους ψαλμοις και υμνοις και ωδαις πνευματικαις εν χαριτι αδοντες εν τη καρδια υμων τω κυριω 3:17 και παν ο τι αν ποιητε εν λογω η εν εργω παντα εν ονοματι κυριου ιησου ευχαριστουντες τω θεω και πατρι δι αυτου

Colossians 3:18-25

John Dominic Crossan, “Unequal in the Family,” In Search of Paul, p. 116-118 John
Howard Yoder, “Revolutionary Subordination,” The Politics of Jesus, p. 164

19           Ephesians 5:25; 1 Peter 3:7
20          Ephesians 6:1
21           Ephesians 6:4
22-25    Ephesians 6:5-8
25           Deuteronomy 10:17; Ephesians 6:9

21    Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 302
23    Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, What’s in a Phrase?, p. 71

What's in a Phrase?

     I began to think of “hearty” as opposed to “heady,” …  In that sense, to do one’s work “heartily,” as Paul recommends, might mean to do it without self-serving calculation, thought of reward, or anxiety, but rather stepping into our assigned tasks with clarity of purpose, trust in the Spirit’s direction, and even deep pleasure in accepting what is given us to do.

23    Helmut Thielicke, “How Free Are We?,” How to Believe Again, p. 140-151

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.  22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.  23 Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.  25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

3:18 αι γυναικες υποτασσεσθε τοις ιδιοις ανδρασιν ως ανηκεν εν κυριω 3:19 οι ανδρες αγαπατε τας γυναικας και μη πικραινεσθε προς αυτας

3:20 τα τεκνα υπακουετε τοις γονευσιν κατα παντα τουτο γαρ εστιν ευαρεστον εν κυριω 3:21 οι πατερες μη ερεθιζετε τα τεκνα υμων ινα μη αθυμωσιν 3:22 οι δουλοι υπακουετε κατα παντα τοις κατα σαρκα κυριοις μη εν οφθαλμοδουλειαις ως ανθρωπαρεσκοι αλλ εν απλοτητι καρδιας φοβουμενοι τον θεον 3:23 και παν ο τι εαν ποιητε εκ ψυχης εργαζεσθε ως τω κυριω και ουκ ανθρωποις 3:24 ειδοτες οτι απο κυριου ληψεσθε την ανταποδοσιν της κληρονομιας τω γαρ κυριω χριστω δουλευετε 3:25 ο δε αδικων κομιειται ο ηδικησεν και ουκ εστιν προσωποληψια

Colossians 4

1        Ephesians 6:9
5        Ephesians 5:16
7-8    Ephesians 6:21-22
8        Acts 20:4; 2 Timothy 4:12
9        Philemon 10-12
10      Acts 12:12, 13:13, 15:37-39, 19:29, 27:2; Philemon 24
12      Colossians 1:7; Philemon 23

14    Phillips Brooks, “The Beloved Physician,” The Light of the World, p. 216-233

1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3 and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4 that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak.

5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.  6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.

7 Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions — if he comes to you, receive him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.  12 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.  13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.  14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.  15 Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea.17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you.

4:1 οι κυριοι το δικαιον και την ισοτητα τοις δουλοις παρεχεσθε ειδοτες οτι και υμεις εχετε κυριον εν ουρανοις

4:2 τη προσευχη προσκαρτερειτε γρηγορουντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια 4:3 προσευχομενοι αμα και περι ημων ινα ο θεος ανοιξη ημιν θυραν του λογου λαλησαι το μυστηριον του χριστου δι ο και δεδεμαι 4:4 ινα φανερωσω αυτο ως δει με λαλησαι

4:5 εν σοφια περιπατειτε προς τους εξω τον καιρον εξαγοραζομενοι 4:6 ο λογος υμων παντοτε εν χαριτι αλατι ηρτυμενος ειδεναι πως δει υμας ενι εκαστω αποκρινεσθαι

4:7 τα κατ εμε παντα γνωρισει υμιν τυχικος ο αγαπητος αδελφος και πιστος διακονος και συνδουλος εν κυριω 4:8 ον επεμψα προς υμας εις αυτο τουτο ινα γνω τα περι υμων και παρακαλεση τας καρδιας υμων 4:9 συν ονησιμω τω πιστω και αγαπητω αδελφω ος εστιν εξ υμων παντα υμιν γνωριουσιν τα ωδε

4:10 ασπαζεται υμας αρισταρχος ο συναιχμαλωτος μου και μαρκος ο ανεψιος βαρναβα περι ου ελαβετε εντολας εαν ελθη προς υμας δεξασθε αυτον 4:11 και ιησους ο λεγομενος ιουστος οι οντες εκ περιτομης ουτοι μονοι συνεργοι εις την βασιλειαν του θεου οιτινες εγενηθησαν μοι παρηγορια 4:12 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 4:13 μαρτυρω γαρ αυτω οτι εχει ζηλον πολυν υπερ υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και των εν ιεραπολει 4:14 ασπαζεται υμας λουκας ο ιατρος ο αγαπητος και δημας 4:15 ασπασασθε τους εν λαοδικεια αδελφους και νυμφαν και την κατ οικον αυτου εκκλησιαν 4:16 και οταν αναγνωσθη παρ υμιν η επιστολη ποιησατε ινα και εν τη λαοδικαιων εκκλησια αναγνωσθη και την εκ λαοδικειας ινα και υμεις αναγνωτε 4:17 και ειπατε αρχιππω βλεπε την διακονιαν ην παρελαβες εν κυριω ινα αυτην πληροις

4:18 ο ασπασμος τη εμη χειρι παυλου μνημονευετε μου των δεσμων η χαρις μεθ υμων αμην