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Colossians 3:18-4
English Standard Version
Colossians 3:18-4
English Standard Version
Rules for Christian Households
18 (A)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (B)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (C)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (D)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (E)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (F)Whatever you do, work heartily, (G)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (H)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (I)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.
4 Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 (J)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it (K)with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may (L)open to us a door for the word, (M)to declare the mystery of Christ, (N)on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 (O)Walk in wisdom toward (P)outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always (Q)be gracious, (R)seasoned with salt, (S)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Final Greetings
7 Tychicus will tell you (T)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[c] 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 (U)Onesimus, our faithful and (V)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 (W)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark (X)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—(Y)if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called (Z)Justus. (AA)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and (AB)they have been a comfort to me. 12 (AC)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always (AD)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand (AE)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 (AF)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does (AG)Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[d] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and (AH)the church in her house. 16 And when (AI)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to (AJ)Archippus, “See that you fulfill (AK)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, (AL)write this greeting with my own hand. (AM)Remember (AN)my chains. (AO)Grace be with you.
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
- Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
- Colossians 4:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
- Colossians 4:15 Or brothers and sisters
Colossians 3:18-4
New International Version
Colossians 3:18-4
New International Version
Instructions for Christian Households(A)
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(B) 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,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(C) from the Lord as a reward.(D) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(E)
4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(F) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer,(G) being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(H) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(I) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(J) 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise(K) in the way you act toward outsiders;(L) make the most of every opportunity.(M) 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace,(N) seasoned with salt,(O) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(P)
Final Greetings
7 Tychicus(Q) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[b](R) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[c] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(S) 9 He is coming with Onesimus,(T) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(U) They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(V) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(W) the cousin of Barnabas.(X) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[d] among my co-workers(Y) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(Z) who is one of you(AA) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(AB) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(AC) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(AD) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(AE) the doctor, and Demas(AF) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(AG) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(AH)
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(AI) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus:(AJ) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(AK)
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AL) Remember(AM) my chains.(AN) Grace be with you.(AO)
Footnotes
- Colossians 3:21 Or Parents
- Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
- Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
- Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.