Colossians 4 : Easy-to-Read Version
4 Masters, give the things that are good and fair to your servants. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.
Paul Tells Christians Some Things to Do
2Continue praying. And when you pray, always thank God. 3Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message.* I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. 4Pray that I can make this truth clear to people. That is what I must do. 5Be wise in the way you act with those people who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. 6When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer every person in the way you should.
News About the People with Paul
7Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful minister and servant with me in the Lord. He will tell you all the things that are happening to me. 8That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are. And I am sending him to encourage you. 9I am sending him with Onesimus. Onesimus is a faithful and dear brother in Christ. He is from your group. Tychicus and Onesimus will tell you all that has happened here. 10Aristarchus says hello. He is a prisoner with me. And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also says hello. (I have already told you what to do about Mark. If he comes, welcome him.) 11Jesus (the one that is also called Justus) also says hello. These are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras also says hello. He is a servant of Jesus Christ. And he is from your group. He always prays for you. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature (perfect) and have everything that God wants for you. 13I know that he has worked hard for you and the people in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Demas and our dear friend Luke, the doctor, say hello. 15Say hello to the brothers [and sisters] in Laodicea. And say hello to Nympha and to the church that meets in her house. 16After this letter is read to you, be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And you read the letter that I wrote to Laodicea. 17Tell Archippus, "Be sure to do the work the Lord gave you." 18I say hello and write this with my own hand--Paul. Remember me in prison. God's grace (kindness) be with you.
Good news, message The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever.