1 MASTERS, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

1Masters, giue vnto your seruants that which is iust and equall, knowing that yee also haue a Master in heauen.

2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thankesgiuing:

3Withall, praying also for vs, that God would open vnto vs a doore of vtterance, to speake the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speake.

5Walke in wisdome toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6Let your speech bee alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how yee ought to answere euery man.

7All my state shall Tychicus declare vnto you, who is a beloued brother, and a faithfull minister, and fellow seruant in the Lord:

8Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that hee might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.

9With Onesimus a faithfull and beloued brother, who is one of you. They shall make knowen vnto you all things which are done here.

10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus sisters sonne to Barnabas, (touching whome yee receiued commandements; if he come vnto you, receiue him:)

11And Iesus, which is called Iustus, who are of the circumcision. These onely are my fellow workers vnto the kingdome of God, which haue beene a comfort vnto me.

12Epaphras, who is one of you, a seruant of Christ, saluteth you, alwaies labouring feruently for you in praiers, that ye may stand perfect, and complete in all the will of God.

13For I beare him record, that hee hath a great zeale for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14Luke the beloued physician, and Demas greet you.

15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, & the church which is in his house.

16And when this Epistle is read amongst you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that ye likewise reade the Epistle from Laodicea,

17And say to Archippus, Take heede to the ministerie, which thou hast receiued in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.

18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to the Colossians, by Tychicus and Onesimus.

 

1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, realizing that you too have a Master in heaven. 2 Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3 at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, 4 that I may make it clear, as I must speak. 5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one. 7 Tychicus, my beloved brother, trustworthy minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news of me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 together with Onesimus, a trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does 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, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of Christ (Jesus), always striving for you in his prayers so that you may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I can testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas. 15 Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house. 16 And when this letter is read before you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you yourselves read the one from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you received in the Lord." 18 The greeting is in my own hand, Paul's. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

v 1. The responsibility of masters is part of the same theme as the servants in 3:22. Paul may have had these things in his mind as he wrote the letter to Philemon of Colosse to persuade him to receive back Onesimus. It is well to study Philemon along with this chapter. Masters should try to exhibit fairness even as the heavenly Master. Neither Christian employers or employees should seek to take advantage of the other.
v 2. To continue is constant attention to prayer, even if it seems to be unanswered. To watch is to give strict attention to prayer without mind wandering and repetitious phrases. Praise and thanksgiving make our prayers pleasing to God.
v 3,4. This reminds us to pray for our own spiritual leaders. Paul is not asking prayer for deliverance from his bonds, but for the ministry he might have. For the opportunity as well as the ability to preach the gospel in sincerity, clarity and power.
v 5,6. Faithful witnessing requires wisdom. A friend of mine was turned off from the gospel when his neighbor knocked on his door one rainy night and said with zeal, “You’re going to hell!”  The neighbor was trying to buy up the time without a life of Holy Spirit control. The words were not with graciousness, or salt, which gives flavor and desirability. First it must be seen in our lives, then we must speak with words that are wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Mt. 10:16.
v7-9. Epaphras had brought word of the problem of the Colossians to Paul, but he seems to have stayed at Rome. Tychicus and Onesimus are being sent in his place to give Paul’s report to them and be an encouragement. Onesimus was a runaway slave and he was taking along a letter from Paul asking his master Philemon to accept the slave as a brother in Christ (See book of Philemon). In the letter to the Colossians Paul says only that Onesimus is a Colossian, a beloved brother and faithful minister, not dwelling on his past. We need not dwell on the past of other believers either.  At this time Tychicus also took along the letter to the Ephesians. 
v 10,11. Aristarchus was a convert from Thessalonica, Acts 20:4. He was with Paul at Ephesus on his third missionary journey 19:29, and on the trip from Caesarea to Rome, 27:2. He is also mentioned in Philemon 24. After having turned back, by now Mark has proven himself, 2 Tim. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:13.
v 12,13. Epaphras was probably converted and trained by Paul at Ephesus, then was sent as an evangelist back to these home cities where he established churches. It appears the back bone of his success was his prayer life.
v 14. Not being mentioned in verse 11 with the circumcision, Luke is no doubt a Gentile. He had been a faithful companion to Paul in contrast to Demas. Demas is only mentioned briefly here, and by 2 Tim. 4:10, he had forsaken Paul.
v 15,16. Paul gives greetings and instructs that his letters be shared. Nymphas was apparently well to do and could open his house for a meeting place.
v 17. Archippus may have taken over the church when Epaphras went to Rome, and the church is instructed to encourage him in fulfilling his ministry. 
v 18. With the exception of Galatians which Paul penned entirely, because of his eyesight, he just wrote the salutation to other letters with his own hand.