COL 4:7-14

Greetings from Paulʼs Fellow Workers

7Tychicus will make known to you all things about me — the beloved brother and faithful attendant and fellow bondservant in the Lord. [4:8] I have sent him to you for this very purpose: that you might know what concerns us and that he might encourage your hearts, [4:9] together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything here. [4:10] Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas — about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him — [4:11] and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones from the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. [4:12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, greets you — always striving earnestly on your behalf in his prayers, so that you might stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God. [4:13] For I bear him witness that he has labored intensely for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. [4:14] Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, and Demas.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, letters like this one served as a vital means of maintaining social and communal bonds, especially among dispersed groups like the early Christian communities. Tychicus, described as a 'beloved brother,' 'faithful servant,' and 'fellow bond-servant,' would have been understood as a trusted envoy, a role common in Roman patronage networks. The term (servant) often referred to an authorized agent, while (fellow bond-servant) emphasized shared servitude under a common master, likely Christ. Onesimus, identified as 'one of you,' may have been known to the Colossians, possibly as a former slave, reflecting the complex social dynamics of the time. Aristarchus, a 'fellow prisoner,' and Mark, Barnabas’s cousin, carried familial and communal significance, with Mark’s mention hinting at reconciliation after earlier tensions. Jesus called Justus, noted as 'among the circumcision,' highlights the Jewish-Christian identity within the broader Gentile context. These greetings reinforced communal ties and mutual support in a fragmented, honor-driven society.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

COL 4:7

KJV: All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
BSB: Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
Koinōnos: Tychicus will make known to you all things about me — the beloved brother and faithful attendant and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

COL 4:8

KJV: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
BSB: I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Koinōnos: I have sent him to you for this very purpose: that you might know what concerns us and that he might encourage your hearts,

COL 4:9

KJV: With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
BSB: With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Koinōnos: together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything here.

COL 4:10

KJV: Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
BSB: My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
Koinōnos: Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas — about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him —

COL 4:11

KJV: 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.
BSB: Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Koinōnos: and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only ones from the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

COL 4:12

KJV: 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.
BSB: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
Koinōnos: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, greets you — always striving earnestly on your behalf in his prayers, so that you might stand complete and fully assured in all the will of God.

COL 4:13

KJV: For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
BSB: For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Koinōnos: For I bear him witness that he has labored intensely for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

COL 4:14

KJV: Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
BSB: Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
Koinōnos: Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, and Demas.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

COL 4:7

servant:The word translated 'servant' here often referred to someone who waited tables or ran errands, a personal attendant, or even a messenger, rather than a household slave.
fellow bond-servant:The term 'fellow bond-servant' emphasizes a shared status of being enslaved, often used metaphorically in early Christian writings to describe devotion to Christ.

COL 4:12

always:The word translated 'always' here carries the sense of struggling or contending, like an athlete in a contest, indicating intense effort and striving.
and:The word translated 'and' in this context means to bring to full measure or to fully satisfy, suggesting a complete and thorough fulfillment of a task or ministry.