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3:3 Paul prays for the Colossians and asks them to pray for him, “that God may open a door” (3:3). What doors seem to be closed for you, in your prayer life, your work, your relationships with others? Ask God to open them.
3:14 Paul sends greetings to speci c friends, including “Luke, the beloved physician,” who is identi ed with the author of the third Gospel.
Old ruins in Hierapolis. Hierapolis was a city famous for its dye and textile industry. It was located six miles away from Laodicea in the Upper Lycus Valley.
d. [4:7] Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21–22; Phil 1:12.
e. [4:9] Phlm 10–11.
f. [4:10] Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2 /
Acts 12:12, 25; 13:13; 15:37, 40;
2 Tm 4:11; Phlm 24; 1 Pt 5:13.
g. [4:12] 1:7; Rom 15:30.
h. [4:14] Phlm 24; 2 Tm 4:10–11.
i. [4:17] Phlm 2.
j. [4:18] 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11;
Eph 3:1; 2 Thes 3:17.
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COLOSSIANS 
V. CONCLUSION*
Tychicus and Onesimus. 7Tychicus,* my beloved brother, trustworthy minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news of me.d 8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts, 9together with Onesimus, a trustworthy and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.e
From Paul’s Co-Workers. 10Aristarchus,* 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),f 11and 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. 12Epaphras* 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.g 13For I can testify that he works very hard for you and for those in Laodicea* and those in Hierapolis. 14Luke* the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas.h
A Message for the Laodiceans. 15Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house.* 16And 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.* 17And tell Archippus, “See that you ful ll the ministry*
that you received in the Lord.”i 18The greeting is in my own hand,* Paul’s. Remember my
chains. Grace be with you.j
* [4:7] Tychicus: Acts 20:4 mentions his role in the collection for Jerusalem; Eph 6:21 repeats what is said here; see also 2 Tm 4:12; Ti 3:12.
* [4:10] Aristarchus: a Thessalonian who was with Paul at Ephesus and Caesarea and on the voyage to Rome (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2). Mark: also referred to at Phlm 24 and 2 Tm 4:11 and, as “John Mark,” in Acts (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:13; 15:37–40). See also 1 Pt 5:13 and the note there. Traditionally the author of the second gospel.
* [4:11] Jesus: a then common Jewish name, the Greek form of Joshua.
* [4:12] Epaphras: see notes on Col 1:3–8 and Col 1:7.
* [4:13] Laodicea: see note on Col 2:1. Hierapolis: a city northeast of Laodicea and northwest
of Colossae.
* [4:14] Luke: only here described as a medical doctor; cf. Phlm 24 and 2 Tm 4:11. Traditionally
the author of the third gospel. Demas: cf. Phlm 24; he later deserted Paul (2 Tm 4:10).
* [4:15] Nympha and. . .her house: some manuscripts read a masculine for the house-church
leader, “Nymphas and. . .his house.”
* [4:16] The one from Laodicea: either a letter by Paul that has been lost or the Letter to the
Ephesians (cf. note on Eph 1:1 in Ephesus).
* [4:17] Ful ll the ministry: usually taken to mean that Archippus, the son of Philemon and
Apphia (Phlm 1–2), is “pastor” at Colossae. An alternate interpretation is that Archippus, not Philemon, is the owner of the slave Onesimus and that Paul is asking Archippus to complete the service he has received in the Lord by sending Onesimus back to minister to Paul in his captivity (cf. Phlm 20).
* [4:18] My own hand: a postscript in Paul’s own hand was his custom; cf. Gal 6:11–18 and 2 Thes 3:17–18.