Colossians 3:5 – 4:1 – Christian Conduct
- Study Index for COLOSSIANS by Chester McCalley
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Colossians Outline
Colossians 1 – 2:3: Glory of Jesus Christ
Colossians 2:4 – 3:4 – Union With Christ
Colossians 3:5 – 4:1 – Christian Conduct
The Conduct of the believer in Christ
or “Putting off” and “Putting on”
OUR INWARD LIFE 3:5-17
ITS NEGATIVE ASPECTS 3:5-11
Items to Put Off 3:5-9
The main verb is translated by the words consider…as dead. It is in the emphatic position and thus lays great stress on our duty. The verb may mean to put to death or to treat as dead. The latter fits the context best (see 3:3). This command is followed by a listing of some of the manifestations of the sin nature.
Manifestations of Sin in Sexual Conduct 3:5a,/cite>
This is expressed by the words immorality, impurity, passion. The word of God shows that there are three possible uses of sex. First, there is the wrong use of sex, as in fornication (I Corinthians 6:15-l9). Second, there is non-use, or abstinence (I Corinthians 7:7-8). Third, there is proper use, as in marriage (I Corinthians 7:9).
Manifestations of Sin in Mental Habits 3:5b-7
The word greed means desire to have more. It is an attitude that is an enemy to the sufficiency of Christ. How is this idolatry? It is idolatry because it raises a rival object of worship.
Manifestations of Sin in Social Habits 3:8-9
The first three words of verse 8 go together. The word anger points
to a bad disposition; wrath refers to an outburst; malice to the ill will that remains after the first two sins have been committed. The next three words also go together. Speech intended to damage reputation is slander; speech intended to inflict injury is abusive; and speech intended to create false impression is a lie.
The Argument for Putting Off 3:9b-11
“…since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him, —a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”
The Old Self Put Off 3:9b
The use of the word self is more of an interpretation than a translation. The Greek word is anthropos, which means man. The old self is literally the old man.
The New Self Put On 3:10-11
What is the new self, or new nature? The new self is not the indwelling Holy Spirit or Christ. This is true because the new self is said to be created and is something that grows progressively. The new nature is the constantly renewed personality of the believer.
ITS POSITIVE ASPECTS 3:12-17
Our Duty in Respect to Others 3:12-14
“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
In Terms of Attitude 3:12
Galatians 5:22 lists the qualities of verse 12 as the fruit of the Spirit.
In Terms of Action 3:13
The word bearing is a participle showing how the foregoing attitudes are to be expressed. Literally it means to put up with. One might note that Paul does not speak of changing one another. Our own weaknesses are the only ones we are responsible for changing. The command presupposes that we all border on being intolerable at times—many times—perhaps most of the time? The word forgiving is the verb form of the noun grace. It refers to unconditional forgiveness.
In Terms of Priority 3:14
The word beyond is a Greek preposition whose basic meaning is upon. Love is to be the crowning quality that is put upon all the foregoing things.
Our Duty in Respect to Ourselves 3:15-17
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
The Peace of Christ Ruling 3:15
Two types of peace must be recognized. First, there is objective peace. This is the peace that has been established by the cross of Christ (Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:1). Our response to this peace is to be faith. Second, there is subjective peace. This is the inner, experiential peace and tranquillity that comes from resting in God’s objective peace. Its protective nature is described in Philippians 4:6-7.
Peace is to have the final word on all matters. The word rule is an athletic term for the word of an umpire. The word hearts is the most comprehensive term in the Bible for the totality of one’s inner life. It may refer to the mind, as in Psalm 14:1; the emotions, as in Romans 10:1; or the will, as in Romans 10:10.
The Word of Christ Dwelling 3:16
First, the word of God is to be memorized (dwell within you). Second, the word of God is to be plentiful (richly). Third, the word of God is to be applied (with all wisdom). Fourth, the word of God is to be expressed (teaching and admonishing one another). The Name of Christ Motivating 3:17
The word all is emphatic. This verse calls upon us to do two things. First, it demands that we eliminate certain things, such as lying (3:9). One can hardly lie in the name of Christ. Second, it demands that we evaluate all things, asking ourselves if they are truly being done for the honor of Christ. What we do is probably not as important as for whom we do it.
OUR FAMILY LIFE 3:18-4:1
Paul makes an orderly and complete presentation of family life as it existed in the first century. Each entity within the family unit is distinctly admonished. Each is particularized by means of a definite article in the Greek text. The concept of mutual duty is germane in each relationship, coupled with the concept of authority and submission.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF WIFE AND HUSBAND 3:18-19
The Relationship of the Wife to Her Husband 3:18
Her Duty
Her duty has two facets to it. First, her submission is to be unbroken and continuous, as indicated by the present tense verb. Second, her submission is to be an act of volition, as indicated by the middle voice—submit yourself. The word translated be subject carries the idea of responding to the office of another. It denotes response and obedience.
Her Motivation
Her motivation for submission is not derived from the good or worthy character of her husband. Her obligation is to him, but her motivation is from the Lord. This harmonizes perfectly with the concept of grace. God does not bless us because of our merits nor withhold blessing because of our demerits. So the wife does not submit because of the husband’s merits, or lack of them, but rather submits as a matter of obedience to the Lord.
The Relationship of the Husband to His Wife 3:19
His Duty
The command to love his wife is imperative, and the present tense indicates it is to be continuous and unbroken. As is true of all genuine love, it is to be expressed in action. No woman should have trouble with submission to a man who loves her.
His Danger
The word embittered is not merely an attitude; it refers rather to
harsh treatment.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS 3:20-21
The Relationship of Children to Parents 3:20
Their Duty
The verb translated be obedient is hupakouo, which is a compound word made up of a preposition meaning under and a verb meaning to dispel. Submissive listening is obedience. The ears of a child should be tuned to his or her parents, not his or her peers. The importance of this command is seen by viewing conditions where it is absent. When Paul is describing human depravity at its worst, disobedience to parents is listed along with haters of God, inventors of evil (Romans 1:30). In II Timothy 3:2 Paul describes society in its final corruption, and disobedience to parents is one of its characteristics.
The words in all things describe the extent of the obedience. It is not to be occasional, and it shows that the child need not be concerned with evaluating the parental request before obedience is rendered.
Their Motivation
Mom and Dad cannot be and are not always right. This, however, is not the point; pleasing God is the issue. This relationship of obedience allows the child to benefit from the age and experience of his or her parents. If one is young, one only knows what it is like to be young. If one is older, he knows what it is like to be young because he has been there; and he also knows what it is like to be older because he is there.
The Relationship of Fathers to Children 3:21
While the mother is included in verse 21, the focus is now on the father. First, he is obligated not to exasperate his children. The word connotes the exasperation caused by being overexacting. Second, this is dangerous because a child who never pleases gives up (don’t we all?).
THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLAVES AND MASTERS 3:22-4:1
“Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. Master, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.”
Understanding these verses requires that we know something about the Roman world of the first century. Wars had heavily depleted the economy, and most of the population were slaves. The Roman soldier would not think of doing the labor of a slave. Work showed low social status; idleness was the badge of the aristocracy. That is why work is stressed in 3:22-25, and compensation is stressed in 4:1. In the empire, one was either a proprietor or a slave. The word of God does not state its approval of slavery. At the same time, it does not suggest the revolt of slaves. On the positive side, it teaches slaves to be good workers and continue in submission to their masters.
Why does the Bible take this stance? It does this because a master can be served as unto the Lord (3:23). God’s word did not free the slaves who were believers; it rather gave them new motives for being good slaves. The New Testament epistles do not concern themselves with the social structure of the Roman world. The emphasis is not on the change of society, but rather on the transformation of men into the likeness of Christ. One could be a Christlike master or, just as easily, a Christlike slave—and being Christlike is all that matters for the believer who is, after all, a stranger and a pilgrim in this world.
The Relationship of Slaves to Masters 3:22-25
Their Duty
EXECUTION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MASTER 3:22A
This is wrapped up in the verb obey, which is the same word used in verse 20 to express the duty of a child to his parents. The word translated master is kurios, which means Lord, and is the same noun as is applied to Christ.
CARRYING OUT ONE’S JOB BY DOING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS WELL AS
POSSIBLE 3:23
The word heartily is ek psucha, which literally translated says out of the soul. This points to both quantity and quality of work.
FINAL COMPENSATION COMES FROM THE LORD, NOT MEN 3:24-25
The Lord takes notice of how we perform on the job and responds to the quality of our work. How we perform our work is identical with serving the Lord poorly or well, for in God’s eyes we are all in full-time service to Him.
Their Motivation
Slaves are to be motivated by God in their work (3:22b,). Negatively, the slave is not to perform external service. The word is a compound made up of the noun ophthalmos, which means eye, and the noun doulia, which means service. There are two ideas here. First, it refers to work which is done only when the master is looking. Second, it refers to work which is done to attract the eye of the master. Either of the above shows that we are working only to please men or ourselves. Positively, work is to be done with sincerity of heart. The word sincerity carries the idea of simplicity of motivation. The worker must be able to say, “I am here on earth to live for the Lord, and I am a servant to pay the expenses.” Doing our job well shows we have respect for the Lord.
The Relationship of Masters to Slaves 4:1
Their Duty
The employer is to be meticulous in the areas of justice and fairness.
Their Motivation
As in all family relationships, the motivation is the same: The Lord observes and responds and regards all obedience within the family as unto Himself. Husband and wife, child and parent, slave and master are all answerable to the same God
APPLICATIONS FOR LIVING
Trying to change others is an impossible task—we help others by passing on the word of God to them (3:13).
It is never God’s will for a believer to be in a frenzy (3:15). Thankfulness is a commanded quality, and there is basis for it in every situation if we make an effort to see it (3:15). On an occasion Matthew Henry was robbed, and he gave thanks for four reasons. First, the robber took all I had, but that was not much. Second, the robber took my possessions, but not my life. Third, I had never been robbed before. Fourth, I was the one robbed, not the robber
- Study Index for COLOSSIANS by Chester McCalley
-
Colossians Outline
Colossians 1 – 2:3: Glory of Jesus Christ
Colossians 2:4 – 3:4 – Union With Christ
Colossians 3:5 – 4:1 – Christian Conduct
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- The Tragedies of Moab: Ruth 1:1-18 – January 27, 2013
- The Welcome to Bethlehem: Ruth 1:19-22 – January 27, 2013
