parallel chapters : ephesians 5 and colossians 3

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texts : ephesians 5 and colossians 3

1. principles eph 5:1,2 col 3:1-4
  both chapters open with a statement of principle by which the ethical requirements of the remaining verses are framed. in colossians, the idea is our death/resurrection with christ, while in ephesians, it is that we have been made 'beloved children' and should therefore be 'imitators of [him]'.
2. put aside sin, put on love eph 5:3-16 col 3:5-14
  paul here lists sins to be avoided (directly shared are immorality, impurity, and greed) and positive traits to be pursued. also shared are a contrast between pre/post salvation (old/new self in col. 3:9,10 and walking in darkness/light in eph 5:8) and comments on the wrath of god (col 3:6, eph 5:6). compare the following verses :
eph 5:5,6 for this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of christ and god. let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of god comes upon the sons of disobedience.
col 3:5,6 therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. for it is because of these things that the wrath of god will come upon the sons of disobedience,
both list start the enumeration of sins with immorality and impurity, then summarize the list as idolatry before declaring that the "the wrath of god comes/will come upon the sons of disobedience".
3. corporal unity eph 5:17-21 col 3:15-17
  obvious parallels include singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to one another and to god, and "giving thanks...to god".
4. relational roles eph 5:22-6:9 col 3:18-25
  wives, husbands, children, and slaves are given nearly identical treatments in both texts; structure and theme is shared, ephesians giving a slightly more extensive teaching.