Verse Lens · Context pointer
Colossians 4:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
Luke is greeted with the descriptor beloved physician while Demas is named without comment, and later biographies must not be read backward into this moment.
Read It With
- Colossians 4:7-18
Read Colossians 4:7-18 as a complete movement. Tychicus and Onesimus carry news and encouragement; a diverse network of coworkers and house churches exchanges greetings and letters; Epaphras prays for Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis; Archippus is charged to fulfill ministry; and Paul's claimed hand closes with bonds and grace. At 4:14, focus on this verse's contribution: Luke is greeted with the descriptor beloved physician while Demas is named without comment, and later biographies must not be read backward into this moment.
Why It Needs Context
Luke is greeted with the descriptor beloved physician while Demas is named without comment, and later biographies must not be read backward into this moment. Its meaning depends on the complete Colossians 4:7-18 movement and should not be expanded into an independent claim.
Read Colossians 4:10–18 together
Why these verses belong together: Coworker greetings, Lycus Valley connections, letter exchange, Archippus's charge, autograph claim, bonds, and grace close the letter.
Verse 10. 10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Verse 11. 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Verse 12. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Verse 13. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Verse 14. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Verse 15. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Verse 16. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Verse 17. 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Verse 18. 18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Colossians 4:7-18 — Coworkers, Neighboring Churches, a Lost Letter, and Grace Close the LetterSources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording, paragraph data, and supplied-word markup for Colossians 4:7-18.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Colossians 4:7-18; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the shared library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Col.txt, Colossians 4:7-18.
Open the Colossians Greek text file ↗