independentparticipialrelativepurposecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
Masters — the household code completed 4:1
1
Masters, render to your slaves what is just and fair,independent — the code's last word — δικαιοσύνη and ἰσότης owed downward, to slaves
knowingparticipial — causal — the ground of the fairness
that you also have a Master in heaven.content — κύριοι have a κύριον — the hierarchy leveled from above (3:25–4:1)
Devotion to prayer — a door for the word 4:2–4
2
Devote yourselves to prayer,independent — the standing imperative — προσκαρτερέω, the church's posture (Acts 1:14; Rom 12:12)
keeping alert in it with thanksgiving,participial — manner — watchfulness joined to εὐχαριστία, the letter's refrain (1:12; 2:7; 3:15–17)
3
praying at the same time also for us,participial — the devotion turned toward the missionaries — ἅμα καί: us too
that God may open to us a door for the word,purpose — the petition — θύρα τοῦ λόγου (cf. 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12): God opens, Paul walks through
to declare the mystery of Christ,purpose — epexegetic infinitive on the door — what the opening is for: the μυστήριον (1:26–27; 2:2)
on account of which I am also in chains,relative — δι' ὅ — the mystery is the charge on the indictment; δέδεμαι, perfect: still bound
4
that I may make it clear,purpose — the second aim, on the speaking — bound, yet asking for clarity, not release
as I ought to speak.comparative — the measure — δεῖ: the obligation of the commissioned herald (1:25)
Wisdom toward the outsiders 4:5–6
5
Walk in wisdom toward those outside,independent — conduct as apologetic — οἱ ἔξω, the watching world
redeeming the time.participial — manner — ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν (Eph 5:16): buying up every opening
6
Let your speech always be with grace,independent — verbless — the imperative supplied; χάρις as graciousness, and as grace
seasoned with salt,participial — the seasoning — ἅλας: speech with savor, never insipid
so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.purpose — purpose infinitive — the indirect question kept inline; ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ: answers fitted one by one
The letter-carriers — Tychicus and Onesimus 4:7–9
7
All my circumstances Tychicus will make known to you,independent — the commission — τὰ κατ' ἐμέ fronted: the news travels by messenger, not letter
the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord,phrase modifier — triple apposition — brother, διάκονος, σύνδουλος (as Epaphras, 1:7); one man, three bonds
8
whom I have sent to you for this very purpose,relative — ἔπεμψα — epistolary aorist: he is being sent now, carrying this letter (Eph 6:21–22)
that you may know our circumstancespurpose — the errand's first aim — τὰ περὶ ἡμῶν known
and that he may encourage your hearts,purpose — the second aim — the subject shifts to Tychicus: news that comforts
9
together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother,phrase modifier — the companion — Philemon's slave sent home a πιστὸς καὶ ἀγαπητὸς ἀδελφός; epithets inline
who is one of you;relative — ἐξ ὑμῶν — a Colossian, returned as family
they will make known to you all that is happening here.independent — the commission doubled — γνωρίσουσιν, plural: the two carry the whole story
Greetings from Paul's companions 4:10–14
vv. 10–11 — the men of the circumcision: Aristarchus, Mark, Justus
10
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you,independent — the list opens — συναιχμάλωτος (cf. Acts 19:29; 27:2); the epithet inline
and Mark the cousin of Barnabas,phrase modifier — co-subject under the singular verb — the deserter of Acts 13:13 restored to the circle
concerning whom you received instructions —relative — the parenthesis — ἐντολάς already sent ahead, by channels we no longer see
if he comes to you,conditional — the protasis, leaning forward — his coming is a live prospect
welcome him —content — the instructions' content — δέξασθε: whatever the old quarrel, receive him
11
and Jesus who is called Justus —phrase modifier — the third greeter under the one ἀσπάζεται — ὁ λεγόμενος inline, a Jew with a Roman byname
these are the only ones of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God,independent — verbless comment on all three — οὗτοι μόνοι: the whole Jewish remnant of the mission team
and they have been a comfort to me.relative — οἵτινες — παρηγορία, a medical-tinged word: solace to the prisoner
vv. 12–13 — Epaphras: the wrestler in prayer
12
Epaphras greets you — one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus,independent — the founder of the church (1:7) — ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν and δοῦλος Χριστοῦ inline
always striving on your behalf in his prayers,participial — ἀγωνιζόμενος — the wrestler's word (1:29–2:1): his absence is not idleness
that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.purpose — the prayer's aim — τέλειοι καὶ πεπληροφορημένοι: the letter's own goal (1:28; 2:2) prayed for them
13
For I testify of himindependent — Paul's affidavit — γάρ: the striving just named, certified
that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.content — πολὺν πόνον — hard toil for all three Lycus-valley churches
v. 14 — Luke and Demas
14
Luke the beloved physician greets you, and Demas.independent — ὁ ἰατρὸς ὁ ἀγαπητός inline — and Demas, here without epithet (cf. 2 Tim 4:10–11)
Final greetings and charges — Laodicea, the letters, Archippus 4:15–17
15
Greet the brothers in Laodicea,independent — the greeting now sent outward — the neighbor church down the valley
and Nympha and the church in her house.phrase modifier — the further objects — Νύμφαν read as the woman Nympha, αὐτῆς: the assembly under her roof
16
And when this letter has been read among you,conditional — temporal protasis (ὅταν), leaning forward — the letter is for public reading
see to itindependent — ποιήσατε — make it happen
that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans,content — the charge's content — ἵνα after ποιέω: the letters are to circulate
and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.content — the exchange — τὴν ἐκ Λαοδικείας fronted; a letter now lost (or Ephesians?)
17
And say to Archippus:independent — the church itself made the messenger — the charge is delivered aloud
“See to the ministrycontent — the quoted charge — Βλέπε: keep it in view (cf. Phlm 2, ὁ συστρατιώτης)
that you received in the Lord,relative — παρέλαβες — a διακονία handed over, in the Lord
that you fulfill it.”purpose — the charge's aim — πληροῖς, present: keep filling it full
The autograph 4:18
18
The greeting is in my own hand — Paul's.independent — verbless — the pen changes: the apostle's own scrawl authenticates (cf. 2 Thess 3:17; Gal 6:11)
Remember my chains.independent — μνημονεύετε — the letter's shortest sentence: the bound hand writes it
Grace be with you.independent — the barest grace-benediction in Paul — verbless: χάρις, first word of the letter and last
Analysis. The chapter is a closing page, and the colors show it loosening: after one last line of the household code (v. 1, the masters' παρέχεσθε with its εἰδότες-ground — they too have a κύριος), the exhortations run in short flush-left imperatives, each trailing a participle of manner: προσκαρτερεῖτε with γρηγοροῦντες and προσευχόμενοι, περιπατεῖτε with ἐξαγοραζόμενοι, and the verbless ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν ἐν χάριτι (dashed) with ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος. The one deep staircase is the prayer request of vv. 3–4: praying → that God open a door → to speak the mystery → for which I am bound → that I make it clear — as I must. Then the roll-call, on the Romans 16 policy: bare epithets (ὁ συναιχμάλωτός μου, ὁ ἀνεψιὸς Βαρναβᾶ, ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν, ὁ ἰατρὸς ὁ ἀγαπητὸς) stay inline with their greeting; finite relatives (ὅς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν, οἵτινες ἐγενήθησάν μοι παρηγορία) drop to their own blue lines; co-subjects of a singular ἀσπάζεται hang beneath it as dashed additions. Choices taken: the ἵνα-clauses after ποιήσατε (v. 16) are read as content ('see that it is read'), not purpose; δέξασθε αὐτόν (v. 10) is read as the content of the ἐντολάς already received, with ἐὰν ἔλθῃ leaning forward over it; οἱ ὄντες ἐκ περιτομῆς (v. 11) is taken as a fresh verbless comment on all three Jewish co-workers rather than as apposition to Justus alone; Νύμφαν (v. 15) is read as the woman Nympha with αὐτῆς, 'her house'; and εἰδέναι (v. 6) is a purpose infinitive on the gracious speech — seasoned so as to know how to answer.