Paul’s final words to the Colossians are “Grace be with you” (Col 4:18), echoing the words with which he greeted them at the beginning, “Grace and peace to you” (1:2). Just as we should understand his opening greeting as meaning much more than “Hi” or “Dear Colossians,” so too should we take his final words as meaning much more than “goodbye.” Paul’s prayer is that the lives of the Colossians would be saturated with God’s grace and peace, and that should be our prayer for ourselves and each other.

Paul probably used what’s called an amanuensis—essentially, a secretary who took dictation—to write to the Colossians. It may have been Timothy, but we can’t know for certain. Here at the end of Colossians and a few other letters, he takes up the pen himself to sign the letter and add a few final words. But as he does so, he becomes conscious of the shackles on his wrists, and bids the Colossians to remember his chains (Col 4:18).

Just before he ends the letter, Paul shifts his greetings: instead of sending greetings from the people around him, he sends greetings or instructions to people in and around Colossae (Col 4:15-17). These greetings reflect the nature of so-called “circular” letters, that is, letters that were meant to be circulated beyond the original recipients. His encouragement and instruction to the Colossians, apparently, was meant for the edification of others as well.