¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 

사랑을 받는 의원 누가와 또 데마가 너희에게 문안하느니라

All these representatives from different back ground work and suffer with Paul for one thing – to let them know the grace of God who has called them.

¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

라오디게아에 있는 형제들과 눔바와 그 여자의 집에 있는 교회에 문안하고

This calling does not stop at Colossae but extends to Laodicea. The word of God has a nature of spreading and multiplying, reaching out to wherever God’s called people are, just as in Jesus’ parables. Remember the parable of ten minas the dear friend doctor Luke told right after the visitation of Jesus to Zacchaeus (Luke 19)?   

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

이 편지를 너희에게서 읽은 후에 라오디게아인의 교회에서도 읽게 하고 또 라오디게아로서 오는 편지를 너희도 읽으라

The recipient of this letter become the preacher, the Colossians to the Laodiceans and vice verse. In this way they teach other and learn from each other.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.’

아킵보에게 이르기를 주 안에서 받은 직분을 삼가 이루라고 하라

The main message of encouraging each other is: ‘perform fully’, ‘discharge’ what you have received!  

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

나 바울은 친필로 문안하노니 나의 매인 것을 생각하라 은혜가 너희에게 있을찌어다

Maybe this greeting part only is Paul’s own handwriting while the rest is a work of a scribe, probably from Rome while he was in house arrest (Acts 28:30,31). What are they to remember about Paul’s ‘chains’? (Although I think he was not in physical chains while he was in house arrest.) – That for the one thing that lacks Paul suffers (1:24) – the knowledge of fully knowing the grace of God. The heart of God and the work that has come and is coming out of it. Reconciling us to him and therefore letting us have peace with him (1:2). This grace be with us.

Lord, thank you for your grace. Thank you for your reminders through the believing people around me. Thank you for the vital nature of your word that spreads within me and within believers and out to who are non-believers yet. Let us discharge and release what you have already given us through the spreading of the gospel. That we have peace with you through the work of Christ and through it our hearts have turned and we have become your dearly loved ones. Let us ponder on this mind blowing work of yours on this Lord’s day and be glad and comforted in your grace.