1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
7All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house. 16When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”
18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossae are biblical cities spoken of by the apostle Paul.
Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale) did not have an apostle's letter written to it, but in the second century, it became an important city. The apostle Philip was martyred there, and a disciple of the apostle John, Papias, lived there.
One of the apostle Paul's letters was addressed to the church at Colosse due to the influence of some incipient gnostic beliefs, and the man Philemon appears to have been a member of that church. The apostle John addressed one of his letters in the Revelation to the church at Laodicea, speaking of their lukewarm condition.
Hierapolis (Pamukkale) and Caesarea Philippi (Panias, Banias) in Israel both have what was considered an entrance to Hades, though the entrance in Turkey boasted the fumes of Hades. Hierapolis was where the apostle (not evangelist) Philip was martyred and where Papias was bishop in the second century. The poison emitting from the site in Hierapolis would kill someone going into it and the priests would demonstrate this by putting in animal sacrifices, yet they did enter very briefly, and held their breath, I would presume. Colosse (it is finally being excavated) is near Laodicea and Hierapolis, though the latter is on the other side of Lycus Valley and Laodicea on the same side and much nearer to Colosse). The back area of Colosse has cold running waters in the streams, which also overflow on the ground near the city of Colosse. The rusted pipes of Laodicea demonstrate the hot pipes of the city and illustrate the statement that John uses statement that Laodicea has neither the refreshing cold waters of Colosse nor the warm healing waters of the hot springs at Hierapolis.