Colossians 4:10 is a greeting. Paul passes along the good wishes of Aristarchus and Mark, two men who were with him as he wrote, and he asks the Colossian church to welcome Mark if he arrives. The verse was written by the apostle Paul, traditionally identified as the author of the letter to the Colossians, and it is addressed to the believers in Colossae, a city in what is now western Turkey.
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”)…
Colossians 4:10 (WEB)
What Colossians 4:10 Means
The verse opens with Aristarchus, whom Paul calls “my fellow prisoner.” That phrase suggests Aristarchus was sharing Paul’s confinement, whatever its exact conditions were, and it shows a bond forged through hardship. Paul does not describe his imprisonment as a disgrace he wants to hide. He names a companion who stood with him in it.
Next comes Mark, identified as the cousin of Barnabas. Paul then recalls that the Colossians had already received instructions about Mark, and he repeats the request that they welcome him if he comes. The verse does not promise that Mark will visit, and it does not explain the earlier instructions in detail. It simply shows Paul asking the church to extend open, generous hospitality to someone whose past may have made that difficult.
The Context of Colossians 4:10
Colossians is a letter Paul wrote to a church he had not personally founded, to correct false teaching and to call the believers to live fully under Christ’s lordship. Its closing chapter is full of names, greetings and practical instructions, which was typical of first-century letters that were read aloud to whole congregations. Verse 10 sits inside a passage about people who carry the letter and the news between Paul and the churches, including Tychicus and Onesimus in the verses just before it.
Read in that setting, the verse is less a formal statement and more a sign of relationship. The letter is handled by real people who travel, serve and suffer alongside the apostle. Paul is showing the Colossians that the church is part of a wider network of believers who know one another, care for one another and trust one another with the work of the gospel.
Key Phrases in Colossians 4:10
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
(WEB)
This verse encourages believers to live at peace with others as far as it depends on them. It pairs well with Colossians 4:10 because both call the church to pursue peace and relational wholeness, even when reconciliation takes effort and patience.
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
(WEB)
Paul urges believers to value others above themselves and to look out for one another’s interests. This passage shows the same heart behind Paul’s greetings in Colossians 4:10, where he consistently names and honors the people who serve alongside him.
A Short Prayer From Colossians 4:10
Lord, thank you for the people you place in my life who walk with me through hard days. Help me to see them as gifts, and to honor their faithfulness the way Paul honored those who stood with him. Where I have been slow to welcome someone back, soften my heart and give me courage to extend grace. Shape my relationships around your love, so that the church I belong to becomes a place of genuine care. Amen.
