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12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave[a] of Christ,[b] greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured[c] in all the will of God. 13 For I can testify that he has worked hard[d] for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas[e] greet you.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 4:12 tn See the note on “fellow slave” in 1:7.
  2. Colossians 4:12 tc ‡ Strong Alexandrian testimony, along with some other witnesses, suggests that ᾿Ιησοῦ (Iēsou, “Jesus”) follows Χριστοῦ (Christou, “Christ”; so א A B C I L 0278 33 81 365 629 1175 2464 al lat), but the evidence for the shorter reading is diverse (P46 D F G Ψ 075 1505 1739 1881 M it sy Ambst Hier), cutting across all major textual groups. There can be little motivation for omitting the name of Jesus; hence, the shorter reading is judged to be that of the initial text. NA28 has ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
  3. Colossians 4:12 tn Or “filled.”
  4. Colossians 4:13 tn Grk “pain.” This word appears only three times in the NT outside of this verse (Rev 16:10, 11; 21:4) where the translation “pain” makes sense. For the present verse it has been translated “worked hard.” See BDAG 852 s.v. πόνος 1.
  5. Colossians 4:14 sn Demas is most likely the same individual mentioned in Phlm 24 and 2 Tim 4:10. Apparently, he later on abandoned the faith because of his love of the world.

12 Epaphras,(A) who is one of you(B) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(C) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(D) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(E) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(F) the doctor, and Demas(G) send greetings.

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