NEW LIFE
NEWS AND GREETINGS
Colossians chapters 3:18 to 4:18
VERSES 18-21
Domestic relations. In this text, Paul shows how the new life in Christ must be manifested in family routine and not only in the meetings of the Church.
A) Wives (v. 18). Must obey their own husbands, as responsible to God for the general oversight of the family.
B) Husbands (v. 19). Must love their wives, showing them not only carnal desire but also (and more importantly) the true affection and sincere interest in their well-being. Husband and wife are "heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3: 7).
C) Children (v. 20). Must be obedient to parents in "everything", as this is the will of God -even when the parents are not Christians. Perhaps there is an exceptional case in which a child believer may not obey his unbelieving father without clearly disobeying the will of the Lord (See Luke 14:26); in this case, the child may have to disobey the father - but only after much prayer and clear conviction about this case.
D) Parents (v. 21). Not "to provoke" children means not to discourage them by constant correction when they are doing their best. Parents should be examples of Christian life in their procedure, and in their conversation, treating children with justice and impartiality.
E) Employees (v. 22-25). Here's a fairly long exhortation to believers who are employed in someone's house or in a firm. Whether his employer is a Christian or not, the employee should treat him with respect and obedience, in all sincerity and honesty, as with the Lord himself. If the employer is unfair or ungrateful, God is not, and the reward for good service is the eternal inheritance. If the employer is a believer, greater must be the employee's effort to please him.
F) Employers (4:1). Employees should be treated with "justice and fairness" - no favouritism or arrogance. What the Lord wants is harmony among all classes, through the good will of all individuals towards each other - and in this the Christian can and must be the example, remembering that the Lord Himself was servant of all, He being the "Lord of Lords" - God in the flesh.
VERSES 1-6
Prayer and prudence. Christian prayer should be persistent, both in church and at home, and always full of gratitude for benefits already received. We must always remember the preachers -even an apostle longed for the fellowship of believers and their support in prayer, so that he might worthily announce the Gospel - the "mystery" of Christ - to which he was doubly "handcuffed": in the Roman prison and as a slave of the Lord.
"Wisdom" includes not only the understanding of the Gospel, but also the power to anounce and explain it acceptably to others. The conversation of the believer should be agreeable, but not insipid - it should be "salted" with some Evangelical truth, to arouse the interest of the incredulous.
VERSES 7-18
News and greetings.
A) The carriers of the Epistle (7-9). These would be Tychicus and Onesimus. Tychicus was a faithful companion of Paul; he is mentioned in Acts 20:4 and Ephesians 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 3:2. Onesmus was the fugitive slave of Philemon and converted by Paul in Rome.
B) Companions. Aristarchus (see Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2, Philemon, 24), Mark (author of the Gospel of Mark-see Acts 12:25 and 13:13) and Jesus called Justus were the only Jewish Christians with Paul at that time and were a comfort to him.
Epaphras, already mentioned in Chapter 1 as a faithful servant of Christ among the Colossians, prayed incessantly for them and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis, two neighbouring churches.
Luke (v. 14) was the author of the Gospel that bears his name and of the Acts; Demas later abandoned Paul and returned to an easier life (2 Timothy 4:10). Archippus was possibly the son (or grandson) of Philemon (see Philemon 2).
The Epistle was signed by Paul personally, handcuffed to a Roman soldier.
Richard Dawson Jones (1895-1987)
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossians chapter 3 verses 18 to 25
1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."
18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
Colossians chapter 4