Colossians · 18 verses
Colossians 4
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
The Colossians are told to read a letter from Laodicea whose contents remain entirely offstage, while their own letter is sent on its way to be read there too. The correspondence has acquired a little circulation of its own, and the missing letter is treated as perfectly familiar without so much as a hint of what it says.
Prayer, speech, and the approaching messengersvv. 1–9
The chapter begins with masters and slaves under the same heavenly authority, then turns to prayer: watchful, thankful prayer for an open door and clear speech while Paul is in chains. Speech outside the household is to be gracious and seasoned with salt, which is an unusually culinary instruction for conversation. Tychicus is dispatched to bring the news and encouragement, accompanied by Onesimus, described as faithful, beloved, and one of the Colossians themselves.
Greetings, wrestling prayer, and the letter that travels onwardvv. 10–18
The greetings now arrive in a crowded procession. Aristarchus sends them as a fellow prisoner; Mark comes with a prior set of instructions attached; and Jesus, who is called Justus, appears under a second name without explanation, one of the chapter's neatest little mysteries. Epaphras wrestles in prayer for the Colossians and takes pains for Laodicea and Hierapolis, while Luke and Demas add their greetings. Nympha's house contains a church, and the letter itself is to cross the road to Laodicea, where another letter is waiting in return. Then Archippus receives a public sentence about completing a ministry whose nature the chapter does not disclose. Paul finishes by writing the greeting in his own hand and naming his chains.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Col 4:1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Col 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Col 4:3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Col 4:4Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
Col 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Col 4:7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
Col 4:8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Col 4:9With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Col 4:10My 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.
Col 4:11Jesus, 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.
Col 4:12Epaphras, 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.
Col 4:13For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Col 4:14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
Col 4:15Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.
Col 4:16After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
Col 4:17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
Col 4:18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
01 — Also here
Who else the chapter reaches
Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.
Named in the Hebrew or Greek somewhere in this chapter, under a form the English renders differently — the registry's Ludim against the translation's Ludites — so there is no word in the sentence to hang the link on.
Reached by an assertion Atlas extracted from a verse of this chapter rather than by a name written in it — a pronoun, a title, or a participant the sentence carries without naming. This layer is model-read and measured at 88.6–90.3% precision, and it is kept separate from the names above for that reason.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 241 passages were voted onto 18 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 21 Thessalonians 5:17–18Pray without ceasing.
- 6Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- 2Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- 61 Peter 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
- 6Ecclesiastes 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- 2Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- 5Ephesians 5:15–17Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
- 2Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- 6Mark 9:50Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- 2Matthew 26:41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
- 5James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- 6Proverbs 15:4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
- 2Luke 18:1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- 6Proverbs 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- 51 Thessalonians 4:12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
- 5James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
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