Colossians 4:18
in Colossians 4This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.
KJV
The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
⋯
This verse in Colossians 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe salutation by the hand of me Paul - The preceding part of the epistle was written by a scribe, from the mouth of the apostle: this, and what follows, was written by the hand of St. Paul himself. A similar distinction we find, 1Co 16:21, and in 2Th 3:17; and this, it seems, was the means by which the apostle authenticated every epistle which he sent to the different Churches. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle, so I write.
This site's exposition
This greeting is in my own hand
Paul takes the pen for the closing line in his own hand, as at 1 Corinthians 16:21 and 2 Thessalonians 3:17. The plea Remember my chains asks for prayer and seals the letter's authority, the chain heard as he signs.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Philippians · Written before 108.
proposed
Philo and Agathopus the deacons salute you. I salute the company of virgins, and the order of widows; of whom may I have joy! I salute the people of the Lord, from the least unto the greatest. I have sent you this letter through Euphanius the reader, a man honoured of God, and very faithful, happening to meet with him at Rhegium, just as he was going on board ship. Remember my bonds that I may be made perfect in Christ. Fare ye well in the flesh, the soul, and the spirit, while ye think of things perfect, and turn yourselves away from the workers of iniquity, who corrupt the word of truth, and are strengthened inwardly by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The salutation of me, Paul, with mine own hand." This is a proof of their sincerity and affection; that they both looked at his handwriting, and that with emotion. "Remember my bonds." Wonderful! How great the consolation! For this is enough to cheer them on to all things, and make them bear themselves more nobly in their trials; but he made them not only the braver, but also the more nearly interested. "Grace be with you. Amen." "Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen." He hath released their terror. For although their teacher be in bonds, yet "grace" releaseth him. This too is of grace, the granting him to be put in bonds. For hear Luke saying, The Apostles returned "from the presence of the council, rejoicing that, they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name." (Acts v. 41.) For both to suffer shame, and to be put in bonds, is indeed to be "counted worthy." For, if he that hath one whom he loveth, deemeth it gain to suffer aught for his sake, much rather then is it so to suffer for the sake of Christ.
A commentator
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Antiochians · Written before 108.
proposed
Ye have been the disciples of Paul and Peter; do not lose what was committed to your trust. Keep in remembrance Euodias, your deservedly-blessed pastor, into whose hands the government over you was first entrusted by the apostles. Let us not bring disgrace upon our Father. Let us prove ourselves His true-born children, and not bastards. Ye know after what manner I have acted among you. The things which, when present, I spoke to you, these same, when absent, I now write to you. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema."
The Medieval Church2 voices
Remember me, who am in bonds and condemned. And the very best consolation for them is to remember Paul the prisoner in every affliction. When grace is present in you, whether you have afflictions or endure bonds, nothing of the sort will overcome you, since …
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. It was the Apostle's practice to have someone else write the entire letter, and at the end of it he would write something in his own hand, as in 2 Thessalonians (3:17): "I, Paul, write this …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He does not say, "Remember I am a prisoner, and send me supply;" but, "Remember I am in bonds as the apostle of the Gentiles, and let this confirm your faith in the gospel of Christ:" it adds weight to this exhortation: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy, Eph. iv.
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants, which might have been joined to the foregoing chapter, and is a part of that discourse. Justice is required of them: Give unto your servants that which is just and equal (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The salutation by the hand of me Paul,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"When we read of his chains, we should not forget that they moved over the paper as he wrote; his [right] hand was chained to the [left hand of the] soldier who kept him" [ALFORD]. Grace be with you--Greek, "THE grace" which every Christian enjoys in some degree, and which flows from God in Christ by the Holy Ghost (Tit 3:15;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The salutation by the hand of me Paul - Probably the rest of the Epistle was written by an amanuensis. As was his custom, Paul affixed his own hand to it in the form of a salutation; compare the 1Co 16:21 note; 2Th 3:17 note. Remember my bonds - Also evidently written by his own hand, to make the injunction more impressive; compare the notes at Heb 13:3. The meaning is, that they should not forget him in his confinement. They should remember that he was suffering on their account (Notes, Col 1:24), and that he was entitled to every expression of sympathy and love. Grace be with you - Notes, Rom 16:20. The subscription to this Epistle is undoubtedly correct. See the Introduction.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁ | ho | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀσπασμὸς | aspasmos | greeting | G783 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμῇ | emea | in my own | G1473 → | 839 times |
| χειρὶ | cheiri | hand — | G5495 → | |
| Παύλου. | paulou | by Paul. | G3972 → | 158 times |
| μνημονεύετέ | mnemoneuete | do remember | G3421 → | |
| μου | mou | my | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεσμῶν. | desmon | chains. | G1199 → | |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάρις | charis | Grace [be] | G5485 → | 153 times |
| μεθ᾽ | meth᾽ | with | G3326 → | |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ὉThe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἀσπασμὸςgreeting
aspasmosG783 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἐμῇin my own
emeaG1473 →839 times
χειρὶhand —
cheiriG5495 →
Παύλου.by Paul.
paulouG3972 →158 times
μνημονεύετέdo remember
mnemoneueteG3421 →
μουmy
mouG3165 →1936 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
δεσμῶν.chains.
desmonG1199 →
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
χάριςGrace [be]
charisG5485 →153 times
μεθ᾽with
meth᾽G3326 →
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:36
I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
- Hebrews 10:34
You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- 1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- Matthew 25:36
Through
2 Timothy 4:22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
it leads to
- Philemon 1:25
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
- Philemon 1:25
Through
1 Corinthians 16:21This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:11
See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!
- Galatians 6:11
Through
Hebrews 13:25Grace be with all of you.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:24
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
On this chapter
About Colossians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Philippians; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Antiochians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.