#315 Colossians Series# 8, The Household

#315 Colossians Series# 8, The Household
Pastors Karl & Cheryl Thomas

The Household Colossians 3:18-4:1
Epaphras work in Colosse. Gospel of Jesus Christ at risk.
Paul sends a letter that asserts the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Jesus is Lord!
Therefore He is fully able qualify us as saints.

Colossians 1:28-29
“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Perfect (teleios):— brought to its end, finished wanting nothing necessary to completeness, perfect, full grown, adult, of full age, mature.

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
Complete:— (pleROo) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, render perfect in every particular.

Paulʼs pattern of writing: Indicative and Imperative  — Theology and Ethics  — Doctrine and Duty
Positional and Practical — Belief and Behaviour  — Freedom and Responsibility—  In Christ and In The Lord Good News and Good Advice

Colossians 3:18-4:1
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged …
…Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
…But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

The teachings of the early church were a challenge to the authority of Rome. Romans were looking for any excuse to imprison Christians. An open challenge to the household code of the day would have exposed the early church to even greater scrutiny.

The pater familias was the oldest living male in a household, and exercised absolute, autocratic authority over his extended family. The term is Latin for “father of the family” or the “owner of the family estate”. The pater familias always had to be a Roman citizen.

Rachel Held Evans
“Aristotle wrote that “the smallest and primary parts of the household are master and slave, husband and wife, father and children.” First-century philosophers Philo and Josephus included the household codes in their writings as well,…
…arguing that a manʼs authority over his household was critical to the success of a society. Many Roman officials believed the household codes to be such an important part of Pax Romana that they passed laws ensuring its protection.”

Colossians 3:9-11 “…since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Paulʼs first writing and these words are subversive to the empire.
Philippians 2:5-8
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men …even the death of the cross.”

Nathan Colquhoun
“Paul is unapologetic. He claims over and over again, the kingdom of God works different. It wrecks havoc on the regular way of doing relationships. Enough of this hierarchy based strictly on human categories. How about this, we are human and we are in Christ and that is it.”

Walsh and Keesmaat (Colossians Remixed)
“This is not a narrative that imposes a series of absolutes to oppress us; it is a story of liberation from an empire that would take captive our imagination while it rapes and plunders the earth…”
“…this is a story of restored relationships, a love story that calls forth an alternative community characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, gratitude and wisdom.”

1. We Reject Slavery In All Of Itʼs Forms!!!
Colossians 3:22-4:1 we declare completely irrelevant in our day. Man was never to have exercise dominion over another human.

2. Children And Fathers
Colossians 3:20-21 Is sound direction to children and fathers. Would have been a radical change in family dynamics of the day.

3. Husbands And Wives
Colossians 3:18-19  “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.”
Another radical change in the dynamics of the day but it should not be seen as proof text for hierarchy in marriage.

1 Corinthians 7:6-7
“But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself.”
Single

Matthew 20:25-28
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; …great among you, let him be your servant. … first among you, let him be your slave … Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Matthew 19:4-5
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,ʼ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one fleshʼ?”

Genesis 2:18
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.ʼ”      helper:— (ezer) strong help
comparable:— (kenegdo) as in front of him; perfect match, same nature.

Egalitarian:— within Christianity, the theological view that not only are all people equal before God in their personhood, but there are no gender-based limitations of what functions or roles each can fulfill in the home, the church, and the society. The Bible teaches the fundamental equality of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

Complementarian:— the theological view that although men and women are created equal in their being and personhood, they are created to complement each other via different roles and responsibilities as manifested in marriage, family life, religious leadership, and elsewhere. It is also known as the Traditionalist or Hierarchical view.

Some Marriage Advice:
1. You Are On The Same Team
Genesis 2:24 “One flesh”
Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one.”
1 Peter 3:7 “…and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

2. Celebrate Differences and Uniqueness.
God went to great lengths to make you an individual. There is no one like you.You are unique for a reason. Marriage does not deaden your unique abilities it brings them to maturity.

3. Share Responsibility
There are seasons where you may have to give extra.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

4 Highly Value Agreement.
Matthew 18:19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

Complaining kills but discussion heals.

Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

315 Colossians Series# 8, The Households, Powerpoint Slides

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