Colossians – Readers Edition

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 ISSN 1943-0345
IRENT – Colossians – Readers Edition

IRENT
An Invitation to Reading in English – N.T.
[The New Covenant in Yeshua the Mashiah]

Vol. II A. Pauline Epistles

No. 8

To the Colossians
(Readers Edition)

安路者 Ahnrojah Books 2014

IRENT
2008
ISSN 1943-0345

IRENT (Colossians – Readers Edition)

2014

Ahnrojah Books

The basic text of this IRENT is open to the public and available free to all for
their personal use. The text is continually updated and uploaded at
http://tiny.cc/bostonreaders .
Publication notice

A Publication Notice
A new fresh rendition of the New Testament into the colloquial common English is to be
published as an online serial under the title of IRENT, in Adobe PDF format accessible
freely through the web. IRENT, the name chosen for the translation text work itself, is an
acronym for Invitation to Reading in English – New Testament.

IRENT Vol. II. A. Pauline Epistles, No. 8 Epistle to the Colossians – Readers Edition.
Overview

Read also Ephesians – two are sister letters.

Colossians
1 Salutation
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Reconciliation through Mashiah's Death
Paulos' Ministry to the Church
2 Dead but Risen with Mashiah
3 The Old Life and the New
Social Duties of the New Life
4 Final Greetings
(Col 1)
INTRODUCTION 1:1-8

‘SALUTATION
1:1
From: Paulosa, apostle of Mashiah Yeshua through God's will,
and Timotheosb our fellow brother:
1:2
To: the holy and faithful fellow brethren in the Mashiah
who are in [the city] Colossae:
Grace to yoů and shalom from Elohim our Father
{and the Lord Yeshua the Mashiah}.

THANKSGIVING
1:3
We give thanks to the Elohim
the Fatherc of our Lord, Yeshua the Mashiah,
always when we are praying for yoů,
1:4
since we heard of yoůr faith in Mashiah Yeshua
and of the love which yoů have toward all who are consecrated,
1:5@
on account of the hope of what is laid up for yoů in the heavens,
of which yoů previously-heard in the true message
– that is, the Gospel
1:6a@
which has come to yoů.
c {and}
in the same way it is bearing fruit and spreading
b
in all the world too [through the Yehudim and Gentiles]
just as it has been doing among yoů,
d
ever since the day when yoů first heard
and came fully-know the grace of the Elohim in truth
1:7
– the grace just-as yoů have learned it from Epaphras,
our beloved fellow bond-servant,
who is a faithful ministering-servant
of the Mashiah on our{/mss} behalf,
1:8
who also disclosed us of yoůr love in the spirit.

a 1:1 Paulos ░░ /> Paul; [His former Hebrew name was ‘Shaul’ (/Saul) – Act 13:9]
b 1:1 Timotheos ░░ [‘God-honoring’] /Timothy –most;
c 1:3 Elohim the Father ░░ [Gk. ‘the God and Father’ - appositive];
 GLORIOUS MASHIAH AND HIS CORPORATE BODY: PROVISION 1:9 – 2:5
INTRODUCTORY 1:9-12
1:9
« Because of this, we also, from the day we heard of it,

◊ have not ceased [faithfully and constantly] praying for yoů

and asking that yoů may be filled with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual discernment –
1:10
— in order for yoů to conduct yourselves worthy of the Lord
▪ pleasing him in every way in every good work
bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of the Elohim;
1:11
▪ being empowered with all power,
according to the might belonging to His glory,
toward great endurance and patience with joyfulness —
1:12
◊ giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us {/mss}a
for the share of what He has reserved
for the God's holy people who dwell in the light.

a 1:12 us{/mss} ░░ {/yoů}

GLORIOUS MASHIAH 1:13-23
(+ Hymnal to Mashiah, the Image of God vv. 15-20)
1:13
The Father delivered us out of the authority [Cf. 1Pe 2:13] of darkness
and transferred us
into the Kingdom reign of the [risen] Sona of His love;
1:14
in this beloved Son we have
our redemption {through his blood}b,
yes, we have the forgiveness of our sins —
1:15@
The exalted risen Sonc is a visible expressiond
of the invisible Elohim, [2Co 4:4; Cf. Heb 1:3]
 — as pre-eminent firstborne [v. 18] over all creation,f [Cf. Rev 3:14]
1:16
since it is in himg [the firstborn] [Rm 8:29]
 that all the thingsh were created [anew]i [Cf. 2Co 15:17; Eph 2:10]
in the heavens and on the earth;
the visible and the invisible
— whether they are thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities — [Eph 1:10, 21, 3:10; cf. 1Co 15:24-25, Col 2:10, 15]
all the things have been created
through him and for him [for his kingdom reign] [v. 13];
1:17
yes, it is He who is [now] before [and above] all things
and in him all the things hold together.

a 1:14 the risen Son ░░ [not ‘eternal pre-existing God the Son’ or 'Jesus before his birth', or even ‘Cosmic Christ’]
[Cf. 'Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given … ' (Isa 9:6).]
b 1:14 {through His blood} ░░ - 1:20; Eph 1:7; [Cf. Act 20:28]
c 1:15 the exalted risen Son ░░ (Gk. hos ‘who’) [the Son, not ‘God the Son’.]
d 1:15 a visible expression ░░ /an image; [‘he = image of God’ tells he is not ‘God’.] [3:10 = 2Co 4:4]; /the image of

– most; [Image of Mashiah (Rm 8:29) = Image of the heavenly One (1Co 15:49).] /xx: exactly like – CEV, ERV; [‘exactly
like’ actually means ‘not same or identical’.]
e 1:15 pre-eminent as firstborn over ~ ░░ [prōtotokos = v. 18. Cf. Exo 4:22, Jer 31:9. Not ‘first-created’] /firstborn

of – KJV, NASB; /firstborn over – NIV; /pre-eminent over – New Heart English Bible;
f 1:15 over all creation ░░ (genitive); /> of all creation; /x: of every creature – KJV; [not Genesis creation of ‘heavens

and earth’, but founding of the world (Eph 1:4) for the new creation in Yeshua the Mashiah.]
g 1:16 in Him ~ through Him and for Him ░░ [the agent for God’s new creation.]; /x: by him; [Cf. Heb 1:2; 1Co

8:6; Jn 1:3 'the Logos' is God's Word, not Jesus Christ'] [Cf. Isa 45:11a, 12, 13b]
h 1:16, 17, 20 all things ░░ /xxx: all other things – NWT (to read 'firstborn' v. 15 as 'first created being'); [Not ‘the

heavens and the earth’, but things in the heavens and on the earth for the new creation by the firstborn Son.]
i 1:16 created [anew] ░░ [Cf. Heb 1:3 ‘he made the world-orders.] [Not to confuse with Genesis creation in O.T.]
 1:18
Furthermore, it is He, He is [at] the head of the body
— the Mashian Community;
He is the Beginning,
— pre-eminent as firstborn [v. 15]a from among the dead [Eph 1:20]b;
in order that He Himself shall come to be pre-eminentc
all things [into new creation in Mashiah],
1:19
since it was a delight to the Father that
 in him
 all the fullness [of God’s being] [Col 2:9] to dwell;
1:20
 and through him
to reconcile [2Co 5:18-19] all things [into new creation]1
to the Elohim Himself, having made peace,2
through Hisx blood shed on the Crossd.
— {through him} whether they are
the things upon the earth
or [cf. v. 16] the things in the heavens. »

1:21
And accepting yoů,
who, having been alienated [from Elohim],
were once even enemies [opposing and hostile to Elohim]
with the mind [active as yoů lived] doing the evil works,
1:22a
yet now Father has reconciled [⇦ v. 20b] [cf. Eph 2:16] [cf. Rm 5:8-10; 8:19-23] —
(1:22)
it is [accomplished] in the sphere of the genuine body
of the Son’s actual flesh-and-blood humanity
through the dying of him [on the Cross] — [fait accompli]
b
in order to present yoů as holy,
— yes, without blemish and without reproach —
in the presence of the Elohim,
1:23
provided indeed yoů remain true to the faith,
being grounded in it and being steadfast in it,
never shifting from the hope held out in the Gospel
which came to yoů and yoů took in
— the gospel which has been proclaimed
in all creation under the heaven, [Rm 10:18; Mt 24:14]
of this gospel, I, Paulos, have been made a ministering-servant.

a 1:18 as firstborn ░░ (= v. 15. Here, also ‘first in order of time’ of resurrection.) [Cf. 1Co 15:23 aparchē Christos
‘firstfruit, Mashiah’];
b 1:18 the dead ░░ [i.e. the old creation to be regenerated in Mashiah]
c 1:18 come to be pre-eminent ░░ (prōteuō. Cf. ̄prōtotokos v. 15, 18); [‘The Creator himself does not need to become

pre-eminent.]; /x: have pre-eminence;

d 1:20 Cross ░░ = 2:14 [IRENT so renders only in the Epistles (capitalized), as symobolic (not icon) of His redemptive

death, not as the actual ‘execution stake’ (2:15).] /> cross; /xx: torture stake – NWT;
GLORIOUS CHURCH 1:24 – 2:3
1:24
Now I myself am rejoicing in my sufferings
I’m undergoing in yoůr behalf:
b
Yes, I’m making up,
d
in this frail frame of flesh-and-body of mine,
c
whatever may still remaina of the afflictionsb
that the Mashiah had endured
e
as yet to be endured in behalf of his body,
which is the Mashian Community.
1:25
It is of her that I became a ministering-servant
to discharge the divine office entrusted to me by the Elohim
which has been entrusted to me for yoůr good
to make the Word of the Elohim proclaimed and known to the full, [cf. 15:19]
1:26
that is, the sacred secret, the very truth
that has until now been kept hidden away
from the ages and the [people of] generations,
but which has now been revealed to His holy people.
1:27
And indeed it was the will of the Elohim to reveal to these [people]
what wealth of glory there was to be found
for the Gentiles in this sacred secret sacred secretc,
— the glory which is the Mashiah in the very midst of yoů, [Tit 2:13]
[the One who holds out] the hope of this glory,
1:28
the Mashiah whom we are proclaiming,
as we admonish everyone
and teach everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone as maturedd in the Mashiah;
1:29
To this end I also am laboring,
striving according to His working,
which is powerfully working in me.

a 1:24 may remain ░░ /remains – GNB; / /xx: lacking – ESV; /x: is behind of – KJV; /
b 1:24 afflictions ░░ /x: tribulations – NWT; /xx: sufferings – NET, GNB;
c 1:27 sacred secret ░░ (Gk. musterion - also 2:2) [i.e. hidden truth which can be known only through revelation]; -

NWT; />> mystery – most;

d 1:28 matured ░░ [teleies S5046 'having reached the goal (telos S5056)] /mature – ESV, HCSB /x: complete – NASB;

/x: perfect – most, KJV; /

(Col 2)
2:1
And indeed, I want yoů to know
how great a striving I have for yoů and those in Laodicea, [Rev 3:14],
in fact for all those who have not seen me personallya;
2:2
in order that their hearts may be comforted,
being knit together in love,
to have all riches of the full assurance of clear understanding
in the accurate-knowledge
about the sacred secretb of the Elohim
— that is, about the Mashiah{mss}
2:3
in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

CONCLUSION 2:4-5
2:4
But I say all of this,
in order that no one may delude yoů with persuasive words.
2:5
As for myself, though even in the flesh I am absent,
but in the spirit I am with yoů,
rejoicing and beholding yoůr good order of conduct
and the firmness of yoůr faith on the Mashiah.

CHURCH AND HER GLORIOUS MASHIAH: POSSSSESSION 2:6 – 4:6

INTRODUCTORY 2:6-10
2:6
Therefore, as yoů have received the very Mashiah Yeshua as the Lord,
lead yoůr life in him,
2:7
having been rooted and built up in him —
and being strengthened firm in the faith just as yoů were taught,
overflowing with the faith in thanksgiving.
2:8
Be on yoůr guard:
Don’t let anyone carry yoů off as a prey [Cf. Eph 4:14]
by means of their+ philosophizing [cf. Act 17:18] of empty speculativeness [cf. 1Co 3:19]
after the mere human tradition which accords
with the elemental [principles]c of the world, [2:20]
but does not accord with the Mashiah; [cf. 2Tm 3:7]
2:9
yet, [as you should know] it is in him
 bodily dwells the whole fullness of what God-being isd.[Cf. 1:19]
2:10
Yoů are the ones having been filled in him,
who is the head over all ruler and authority: [1:16; 2:10, 15] [Eph 3:10]

a 2:1 seen me personally ░░ [idiom. Gk. ‘seen my face in flesh’]

b 2:2 sacred secret ░░ (Gk. musterion – also 1:27) [i.e. hidden truth which can be known only through revelation]; -
NWT; />> mystery – most;
c 2:8 elemental principles ░░ [of Hellenistic theurgy]; /> elementary principles; /elementary spirits – ESV, NET; /x:

rudiments – KJV; /
d 2:9 what God-being is ░░ (theotēs) /(fullness of all) that God is – JNT; /> the divine quality – NWT; /the God’s being

– ARJ (‘being of God’) (Cf. God-being); /x: deity - ESV; /xx: *Godhead – KJV etc.; [Cf. the ‘fullness coming from
Elohim’ – Eph 3:19] [The phrase ‘dwells bodily’ here does not mean that Jesus is God, or he is called God.]
CHURCH IDENTIFIED WITH MASHIAH 2:11 – 3:4
2:11
Besides, it is by belonging to him
that yoů have undergone a ‘circumcision’, [Phi 3:3]
not by the work of any human hand [Eph 2:11]
but one consisting in yoůr stripping off
of the body {of the sin} belonging to humanity
that is, in such ‘circumcision’a effected by the very Mashiah
2:12
as yoů were buried together with him in immersion,
in whom yoů were also raised together [3:1; //Eph 2:6; //Rm 6:4]
through the faith in the working of the Elohim,
who raised him from among the dead.
2:13
Indeed, there yoů were lying dead in yoůr transgressions, that is,
in remaining ‘uncircumcised’
in yoůr [state of the very] human nature
But Elohim [in His mercy] made yoů alive together with him,
having forgiven us all our trespasses
2:14@
by having blotted out what was brought against us,
the hand-writtenb note [of debts] with its [legally binding] rulings,
— the note which was standing against us
[+as evidence/witness about these trespasses].
Yes, this very [handwritten note] He has taken out of the way for us,
by having nailed it [as an inscription] to the Crossc.[cf. 1Pe 2:24]
2:15
Having stripped of their power
of the rulers and the authorities, [1:16; 2:10; Eph 1:21; cf. Jn 12:31; Eph 2:2]
the Elohim boldly made a spectacle of them
leading them as conquered in open public,
having triumphed over them by virtue of the Cross.
2:16
Therefore do not let anyone judge yoů [Rm 14:4-6]
concerning [the issues of prohibition on] food or drink
[+according to their dietary law]
or in matter of [keeping] a festival,
or New Moon feastd, or sabbathse:
[+all these may be essential then,
belonging to the Mosaic Covenant] [Isa 1:13-14] [cf. 2:20; Gal 4:10]
2:17
which are being no more than
a pale fore-shadowing of things that are to come;
the true realityf [+of all things] is, in contrast, to be found
nowhere but in the very Mashiah.

a 2:11 in such ‘circumcison’ effected by ░░ /in the circumcision of – most; /x: through the circumcision done by –
NET; /xx: Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by – NIV; /
b 2:14 hand-written note ░░ [not ‘the law’, ‘the commandments’ or ‘the Torah’]
c 2:14 Cross ░░ = 1:20 [capitalized as a symbol. Cf. ‘execution stake’- 2:15] /> cross; /xx: torture stake – NWT; /
d 2:16 *New Moon feast ░░ [on New-Moon day = 1st day of the lunar month; a third kind of day; not a work day, nor

a sabbath day in the Biblical calendar.]

e 2:16 *sabbaths ░░ /sabbath days – NET; /x: a sabbath – ESV, NWT; /the sabbath days – KJV; [including weekly

sabbaths as well as annual festival sabbaths.]

f 2:17 reality ░░ (sōma as ‘substance’ ‘reality’ in contrast to skia ‘shadow’) - NET; />> body – most; /
2:18
Do not let yourselves be robbed of yoůr prize
getting judged unworthy of it
by those+ who are obsesseda with ascetic practiceb [v. 23]

– even cultic devotionc

to the angels.
They take their stand on visions
they claim to have received,
thus, groundlessly being puffed up
by their own minds belonging to worldy human natured.
2:19
They fail to hold fast to the One
who is the Head of the corporate Body [=the Mashiah],
from whom the whole body
— being supported and held together
by its the joints and ligaments —
[should] be growing as the Elohim makes it grow.
2:20a
When yoů died together with the Mashiah
to be set free from the elemental [principles] of the world, [2:8]
as if yoů [the Gentiles] are still living a life bounded by the world,
why do yoů subject yourselves to rules
2:21
[+such as in Gnosticism], saying that
‘Do not handle’; ‘Do not taste’; ‘Do not touch’.
2:22
Such rules — which are about things
all destined to perish by being used up —
are based on the precepts and teachings of the hmen?
2:23
These very rules indeed do pass [nicely] for wisdom
with a self-devised religione
— yes, with ascetic practice [v. 18]
and self-abasement of the body;
but they are of no real value in the struggle
against indulgence from our human naturef. [cf. Isa 58:5-7]

(Col 3)
3:1
Yoů have been raised
together with the very Mashiah.
Then, keep on seekingg [in yoůr life] those things
which fit for the realm on high above, h[Cf. Mt 6:9]
where the very Mashiah is,
being ☼seated at the place on the right of the Elohim. {☼Psa 2:17}
a 2:17 are obsessed with ░░ [thelō ‘will’ ‘wish’ ‘desire’] /have desire; /delights in; /insists on;
b 2:17, 23 ascetic practice ░░ [tapeinophrosunē. Cf. 3:12 ‘humility’]
c 2:18 cultic devotion (to the angels) ░░ /x: (angel) worship – most; [See BW ‘*religion’]
d 2:18 of wordly human nature ░░ [Gk. sarkos ‘flesh’ v. 23]; /> sensuous – ESV; /> fleshy – KJV, NASB, NET; /x:

unspiritual – HCSB, NIV; /of his fleshy – YLT; /

e 2:23 self-devised religion ░░ [ethelothrēskeia]
f 2:23 human nature ░░ (esp. its carnal aspect); /Gk. sarkos; /x: flesh – KJV (biblical jargon); /xx: sexual – NIV;
g 3:1 keep on seeking ░░ /x: set your affection – KJV;
h 3:1 those which ~ high above ░░ [not ‘things in heaven/paradise/after death to enjoy’, but Life, shalom, justice;

fruitage of the spirit Gal 5:22]

3:2
It is on that which fits [for that realm] on high above
that yoů should set yoůr minds,
not on those things [craved for power and pleasure]
on the realm of life on earth.
3:3
The fact is, yoů have died – done with
[as far as the world is concerned]
and the new life which yoů have now – yoůr real one –
has been safely kept with the very Mashiah in the Elohim.
3:4
When the very Mashiah — who is our{/mss} life [Jn 1:4; 11:25]— is revealed,
then yoů too shall be together with him
revealed in glory. [Rm 8:19; 1Th 4:16-17]

MASHIAH IDENTIFIED WITH CHURCH 3:5-4:1

(The Old Life and New) 3:5 – 17
3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever of human naturea in yoů
belongs to the earthly existence
— such things as sexual immorality,
uncleanness, lust, evil desire
yes, the very covetousness
which is tantamount to worshiping false gods.
3:6
Because of these things the wrath of the Elohim is coming
{poured upon the deeds of disobedience}:
3:7
with which things yoů also once used to lead yoůr life,
when yoů lived on in these things {/mss}.
3:8
But now, you also, put away all these things –
wrath, anger, malice, slander, foul language of yoůr mouth;
3:9
There should be no lies to each other anymore;
yoů have stripped off the [image of] Old Self
together with all its practices.
3:10
And have put on the [image of] New Self,
who is being renewed unto full knowledge
after visual expressionb of the One who created it: [Col 1:15; 2Co 4:4. Gen 1:27]
3:11
Here in that renewal,
there is no longer [distinction in their standing as] [Rm 10:12]
Greek and Yehudic;
belonging to ‘circumcision’ or ‘uncircumcision’;
babariand, Scythian;
slave, free-man.
No, but the Mashiah is all things (in this new self) and in all of us.

a 3:5 whatever of human nature in you ░░\ (melos constituent); /x: your members – KJV, most - (church members?);
/xx: your body member – NWT (- body parts or organs?);
b 3:10 after visual expression ░░ /in the image; /
c 3:11 Yehudi ░░ /Yehudite; />> *Jew – most; [anachronistic]
d 3:11 babarian ░░ [that is, non-Greek]
3:12
Clothe yourselves, then, as chosen people of the Elohim of His own
— sanctified and beloved —
with a compassionate heart,
with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience;
3:13
bearing with one another and forgiving each other,
should anyone find a fault with someone else;
as indeed the Lord{/mss}a forgave yoů,
so yoů should forgive also others. {cf. Eph 4:32 God also in Mashiah forgave}
3:14
And upon all these things put on love,
which holds yoů all in unity perfectly;
3:15
and let the shalom from the very Mashiah{/mss}b
take hold among yoů all in yoůr hearts
as in such harmony with each other
yoů were indeed called in one body.
3:15b And always be thankful;
3:16
let the word of the very Mashiah{/mss}c dwell
in midst of yoů in all its richness,
— with all the wisdom [from above]
as yoů are teaching and admonishing one another
— with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs [Eph 5:19] with thankfulness
as yoů are making melody from yoůr hearts to the Elohim{/mss}d.
3:17
And whatever yoů do or say,
do it all in the name of the Lord Yeshua,
giving thanks because of him to Elohim the Father.

(Personal Relation in New Life 3:18 – 4:1)

Household Codes (See //Eph 5:21-6:9)
3:18
Yoů who are wives!
[In self-giving love] be yoů placing yourselves
under the{/mss}e husbands’ needs, f [Eph 5:22; 1Pe 3:1]
just as yoů are connected with the Lord.
3:19
Yoů who are husbands!
Be yoů loving yoůr wives
and do not be insensitive and harsh to them.
3:20
Yoů who are children!
Be yoů obeying yoůr parents in every thing. [cf. Prob 1:8-9]
Indeed, this is what the Lord delights in.

a 3:13 the Lord {/mss} ░░ {/Mashiah}.

b 3:15 Mashiah{/mss} ░░ {/God}
c 3:16 Mashiah{/mss} ░░ {/God} {/LORD}
d 3:16 God {/mss} ░░ {/the Lord Mashiah} {/the Lord}.
e 3:18 the {/mss} ░░ {/yoůr own}
f 3:18 be placing yourselves under the husbands’ needs░░ (such as of ‘power’); /place yourselves under your

husbands’ authority – GW;/xx: be subject to – LEB, LITV, MKJV, YLT, Murdock; /be in subjection to- NWT; /x: submit
to – ESV, NET, KJV (~yourselves unto); GNB (~ yourselves to); /xxx: be submissive to – WNT; /xx: be in subjection to
- ASV; /xx: be willing to serve – ERV; /
3:21
Yoů who are fathers!
Stop exasperating yoůr children,
so that their spirit does not get bruised.
3:22
Yoů who are servants! [Eph 6:5-8]
Be yoů obeying to them in all things [yoů’re bound to perform],
as following the human norm, to yoůr masters;
not only when they are watching, just to please people,
but from sincerity of heart, in reverence for the Lord{/mss}a.
3:23
((Whatever yoů are doing,
work at it with your very soul put in there,
diligently as you would to the Lord [Eph 6:6; cf. Mt 25:40]
and not as to people;
3:24
knowing that it is from the Lord yoů are going to receive
the due reward of what He has kept for His people;
{indeed} the Lord Mashiah is the master
whose servants yoů all should be.
3:25
But the one who does wrong
will receive-back a payment for what he did wrong;
and there is no respect of persons for this with Elohim.))
4:1
Yoů who are masters! [Eph 6:9]
Provide yoůr servants what is right and fair;
knowing that yoů also have a master – Master, Lord in heaven[s].

(Col 4)
CONCLUSION
(Instructions 4:2 - 6)
4:2 Be attentive to prayer in earnestness,
keeping yoůr minds wide awake with the praying
and yoůr hearts filled with giving of thanks;
4:3
at the same time praying for us too
that the Elohim may open a door for the word [to go out there]
in order to speak out the mystery, that is, the very Mashiah himself
— my doing so being the very cause of my imprisonment —
4:4
so that I may declare it openly, speaking as I ought.
4:5
Lead yoůr life wisely with prudence toward those who are outsider,
making the most of each opportunity as it comes.
4:6
Let how and what yoů say to them
always be gracious,
having it seasoned well [as it were] with salt,
never having anything insipid about it;
so that yoů may come to know how yoů should respond
to each one bringing up questions.

a 3:22 the Lord {/mss} ░░ {/God}

EPILOGUE: Final Greetings
Recommendations
4:7
As to all about the circumstances in which I find myself
yoů’re going to learn from Tychicus,
— the beloved fellow brother and faithful ministering-servant
and my fellow bond-servant in the service for the Lord—
4:8
I have sent him to yoů for this very purpose:
that yoů may learn how things are going with us,
and that he may bring comfort to yoůr hearts.
4:9
And along with him I have sent Onesimus, [Phm 11]
the faithful and beloved fellow brother,
who is one of yoůr own [congregation].
They will tell yoů everything that is happening here.

Messages
4:10
Greetings to yoů —
▪ from Aristarchus my fellow-captive,
▪ from Markusa [who is called Yohanan], the cousin of BarNabbab,
(Yoů have received instructions about him;
make him welcome when he comes to yoů),
4:11
▪ and from Yeshuac (who is called Justus):
only these being among fellow-workers
from the peole of "circumcision-rite"d
— and they have provided me encouragement
for the furtherance of the Kingdom reign of the Elohim.
4:12
Greetings to yoů from Epaphras,
who is one of yourselves, a servant of Mashiah Yeshua;
he is always fervent in behalf of yoů in his prayers
so that yoů may stand firm as mature [1:28]
and fully assured in all the will of the Elohim.
4:13
Indeed, I testify of him, that he takes much pain in behalf of yoů
and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.
4:14
Greetings from Luke our beloved, the man of healing art,
and so from Demas [2Tm 4:10].

a
4:10 Markus ░░ /Mark;
b
4:10 BarNabba ░░ /Barnabas;
c
4:11 Yeshua ░░ - JNT, HNV, ISR, MRC; /x: Joshua – TCNT, GNB; /Iesus – KJV 1611; /x: Jesus – most;
d
4:12 from the people of “circumcision-rite” ░░ [i.e. converts from Judaism.]
Instructions
4:15
Greet the fellow brethren who are in Laodicea
and greet Nymphaa and the gathered believersb that meet in her house.
4:16
And when this letter has been read aloud in yoůr presence,
forward it to be read aloud also in the congregation of the Laodiceans,
and yoů also need to read aloud the letter from Laodicea.
4:17
And say to Archippus,
<See to it that you fulfill the ministry
which you have received in the Lord>.

Last words
4:18 [Here is] the greeting from [me] Paulos in my own handwriting.
Remember me being in prison.
Grace be with yoů.

[The End]

1
1:20 all [creation as a whole] ░░ (Rm 8:19) - Alford fn; /> all things; /[= the universe; not to be limited
to ‘all intelligent beings’ , or ‘all men’ or ‘the whole Church’, as broken upon in the following clauses into
terms which will admit of no such limitation.]

2
1:20 having made peace ░░ [the subject of the verb is not Christ (as in Eph 1:15)] /peace being
established; /

a
4:15 Nympha ~ her ░░ {/Nymphas ~ his}
b
4:15 gathered believers ░░ /> assembly; />> congregation; /x: church;