Class Notes, Col 3:18-4:18

• Review:
• Two main sections of put off -- negative interpersonal relationship factors
• Sexual desires or appetite affect us, and ultimately others (directly or indirectly)
• Abusive speech directly affects our interpersonal relationships
• One section of put on -- positive relational character qualities
• Four imperatives for living
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
• We don't have to worry or strive, our future is assured
• We have a heavenly Father who cares for us
• We have an incredible inheritance
• Sometimes a choice is involved, and we have to be the ones who choose what will bring peace in a situation
• Be thankful
• James says to give thank in all things
• One of the biggest attitude changers and a protection against bitterness and anger is the ability to give thanks
• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
• God can renew our mind through the word of God (Rom 12:1-3)
• As our mind changes, our behavior will change
• How do you do this? One key is scripture memory
• Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus
• Whatever we do, we are serving the Lord
• It is the family name that we represent, not ourselves or someone else
• The NC does not provide a code of rules, but the basic principles of life.  It is true, though overused today, to consider "what would Jesus do?"

Six specific relationships:

Col 3:18-21 (NIV) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

• There are six classes of people described here and in the verses which follow.  They break down into three pairs of relationships: marriage, family, and work. This particular list is shorter than Ephesians but similar
• Wives are to submit to their husbands in their Lord (not to all men). I think the key thing is that the husband needs to be the spiritual head of the household.  The husband needs to lead spiritually.  Oftentimes, it is the wife who is spiritually attuned, but it really is a God-given role of the husband.
• The reason that "it is fitting" is because it is the way God set up the marriage relationship
• The husband is not told to lead, but to love (agape love -- all give) and not to be harsh (in positive terms -- to be kind)
• Love puts another's interest ahead on oneself
• It is much easier to submit to headship when you know your interests are being considered
• Harsh or embittered is the opposite of agape love
• Children have a requirement to obey their parents.  This is how they can please God
• This relationship ceases specifically at marriage
• Fathers apparently can have a tendency to rule harshly
• Also, too many rules can embitter children.  This may be an allusion to the Judaizers or legalism mentioned in chapter 2

Col 3:22-4:1 (NIV) Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

• It appears that the letter to Philemon may have been sent back with this letter, in which case, Paul uses the general letter to address the larger issue

• For servants or slaves in that culture, and employees in our culture, what is the command?
• Obey the boss in everything (at work)
• Do it all the time (not just when you are being watched)
• Example of pickle factory line job and how people worked better when the boss was looking, hoping to get moved to a better job
• Give your whole effort to the job
• Act as if you were doing it for the Lord
• Act as if it is part of your inheritance and reward at the end of life
• Out actions as believers have consequences in eternity

• For Masters in that culture, and employers in our culture, what is the command
• Provide what is right and fair.  We would have never had unions if employers had been fair in paying employees
• Remember, that you have a Master in heaven
• God is evaluating how we use the position of responsibility that he gives to us

Specific Practices:

Col 4:2-6 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

• The Gr. word for devote is proskartereo; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor) [1]
• So what does it mean to proskartereo to prayer?
• What are the things that we are devoted to? Children, work, yearly vacation, food, ….. Where does prayer fit in our list?

• Our prayer should be characterized with two qualities, watchful and thankful.  What do they mean?
• Watchful. Gr. word, gregoreuo, means to keep awake. Also translated as be vigilant (image of a guard). Learning to pray at all moments of the day.  When we see a bad accident or pass by someone with a handicapped child or …, we should pray immediately.  If possible, we should also assist, but in many cases that would not be appropriate.  Such as police are on the scene, or there is no real issue going on
• Thankful. Gr. word, eucharistia, means actively grateful language to God.  I think that one of the biggest problems we have in the US is an inability to be thankful.  We have expectations of more, and so we are never thankful for what we have

• Biblical prayers seem so much different from the prayers we typically hear in church.  What is Paul's prayer request to the church?
• Paul ask for opportunities to share the gospel.  (I once heard that Paul never asked for opportunities only boldness, well here, he is asking for opportunities)
• Paul asks for clarity of speech.  The message never changes, but our methods and explanations need to reach the individual.  The intellectual and the high school dropout need to be approached differently.  The hungry person and the person who has all that he needs require a different approach.  Paul said the he becomes all things to all men so that he might win some to the Lord

• Paul exhorts them to "be wise in the way they act toward outsiders."  How do we do this?
• Ask good questions.  Start with simple questions about their job.  Move to family.  Look for opportunities to ask about a church or faith
• Put up a flag.  Pray at meal times, discreetly but clearly.  Read your bible on an airplane or during your free time
• Live as Christ lived.  If are moral standards are no different than those around us or are less than those around us, we will have no witness
• Serve others

• Paul exhorts them for "conversation full of grace and seasoned with salt."  How?
• Our speech should be gracious, gratifying
• Salt preserves things.  The opposite is to corrupt or spoil things
• When we tear people down, complain, argue, show bitterness, are selfish, we hurt our witness

Col 4:7-9 (NIV) Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

• Tychicus is sent for two purposes
• Give details about Paul's circumstances
• Enourage their hearts

• My guess is that Tychicus is a man who was discipled or trained by Paul [2]
• He is mentioned five times in the NT with Paul (Acts 20:4); Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; Titus 3:12; and 2 Tim 4:12)

• What do we know about Onesimus?
• He was a slave of Philemon
• He ran away.  Came to Christ through Paul.  And now Paul is sending him back.  Obligations made before Christ are still binding after we come to Christ

Col 4:10-18 (NIV) My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

• Aristarchus:  came from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4), had been with Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:29), and had accompanied him to Rome (Acts 27:2) [2]

• John Mark: (Acts 12:25) had rejoined Paul after their separation during Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:5, 13). The Colossians knew his cousin Barnabas better.[2]
• He is an example of someone who failed God, but was still used by God later in life

• Jesus or Justus is only mentioned here

• The latter three were Jewish.  They were the only Jews supporting him (with him at the time of the writing). The remaining names are all Gentiles

• Epaphras: he is from Colossae.  He also ministers to those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  He started all three ministries.  He understands the secret of true ministry: PRAYER!

• Luke is mentioned as a Physician

• Demas is mentioned, although in a little bit (2 Timothy), Demas deserts Paul

• Greetings are given to:
• Church at Laodicea
• Nympha probably hosted the church in her house.  It was not until the third century that churches met in buildings (Lightfoot)

• We have already mentioned previously the letter to the Laodiceans.  It was obviously not inspired and is lost.  There are no copies

• Archippus: Philemon 2 suggests that he is Philemon's son.  Paul gives him a specific charge, which is strange since the charge must have come from someone to Archippus since Paul did not know the church.  He could be the leader of the church in which case, Paul is encouraging him to continue in the work
• APPLICATION: Everyone of us could insert our name for Archippus: "Tom , see to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
• What is the work God has given me?
• What am I doing to complete it?

[1] Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

[2] Constable, Notes on Colossians, 2010