Colossians 3:18

Colossians 3:18 - 4:1

observe

read text
note that verbs are imperative - this is an application text again
who are we addressing these things to?

wives and husbands
fathers (parents) and children
slaves and masters

note : interpret and apply is going to be done section by section this week

wives and husbands

wives

check parallel in eph 5:22-24

interpret - what does it mean to be in subjection? v18

1. eph 5:21 - this is something that all christians are to do (be subject to one another).
2. this is something that christ does to the father

1 cor 11:3 - paul makes this point

this is scary because she needs to do this regardless of the actions of the husband (excepting cases where it would violate a command of scripture)
note - subjection in role does not imply subjection in value/worth.

note that 'subjection' is used here instead of obedience; the husband is not supposed to be the parent of the wife

interpret - why is it fitting in the lord? v18

because this is god's command?
ultimately, 'why' is a bad question - the point is that it is fitting.

apply - how should we (wives) be in subjection?

1. understand that there is a role difference.
2. understand that there is not a value difference.
3. obey the husband in all biblical areas. (?)

women - what is hardest about this command?
women - when is it difficult?

husbands

check parallel in eph 5:25-26

interpret - what does it mean to love your wives? v19

1. put her interests ahead of our own (in an even greater way than with other christians).
2.

interpret - why does he tell us not to be bitter against them? v19

we would be be bitter because :

because of physical | emotional | spiritual weakness?
because of role differences?
because of the man's physical | emotional | spiritual sinfulness?

ultimately, we don't know - the text doesn't tell us why we would be bitter.

it does tell us that we aren't allowed to do it however - husbands aren't allowed to be bitter towards their wives

apply - how should we love our wives?

we care more for her welfare and pleasure than for our own.

phil 2:3
it means learning to cook or clean or whatever else is helpful.
it means helping with dishes after a long day at work.
it means playing scrabble.

men - what are concrete examples of this?
men - when is this hardest?

children and parents (fathers)

children

check parallel in eph 6:1-3

interpret - what does it mean to obey your parents? v20

1. simply put, do what they say.
2. on a broader note, this is again a fulfillment of the authority structures given by god

apply - how should we obey our parents?

well...this isn't a children's class.
but - we are parents, and this command tells us what we should help our kids do.
we should teach our kids that :

1. god has placed us in authority over them (role, not value)
2. god commands them to obey their parents
3. it pleases the lord when children obey their parents (positive - not just the stick of authority)

fathers

check parallel in eph 6:4

interpret - what does it mean to not exasperate your children? v21

1. note that the result, losing heart, explains the concept of 'exasperation'.
2. note that again...authority is to be kind and caring.

apply - how should we avoid exasperating our kids?

1. note the consistency in rules for the 'authority' - kindness and consideration for the other is the rule.
2. rules are not to be made without consideration.

parents - what things should be done to help our kids not lose heart?
parents - what sort of rules should we avoid?

slaves and masters

slaves

check parallel in eph 6:5-8

interpret - who is the slave actually serving when he serves his master?

does this apply to the other role relationships as well?

interpret - what is meant by 'the reward of the inheritance'?

TODO

interpret - what is "the consequence of the wrong which he has done" in v25?

TODO

interpret - in what ways are the commands given to slaves applicable to modern 'employees'?

TODO

apply - what does the biblical employee/slave look like?

no bad attitudes
works hard
do we work for our bosses the way we would work for christ?

masters

check parallel in eph 6:9

interpret - justice and fairness; why is this important?

"knowing that you too have a master in heaven"
matt 7:12 - "treat people the same way you want them to treat you"

interpret - in what ways are the commands given to masters applicable to modern 'employers'?

yes.

apply - what does the biblical boss not do?

apply - what does the biblical boss look like?

looks out for the interests of others
are we the kind of bosses/managers we would love to have?