Colossians 3:1–4:1 Walk the Talk
Prayer: With expectant hearts and minds, we seek your truth, O God. In this study, help us to be attentive as we listen, careful as we speak, and awake to your wisdom. Open our hearts to your Scripture and give us the courage to change in light of what we read. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
With your group, take turns reading the introduction and text and answering the questions in each section.
Introduction
If Jesus is the highest authority, if he defeated all the spiritual forces the Colossians feared, how should they live? In Colossians 3, Paul drives his point home: he challenges the Colossians to live their lives in light of the future that is coming in Christ.
The first phrase in this chapter is, “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ.” To Paul, dying and being raised from the dead with Christ are things that have already happened. He is basically saying to the Colossians, “lead a life that treats the future reality as a present fact.”
In writing about morality, we will see that Paul employs a common ancient structure: lists of virtues and vices. For comparison, read this part of a list of vices in the Community Rule, a document from the ancient community of Essenes at Qumran:
But the ways of the spirit of falsehood are these: greed, and slackness in
the search for righteousness, wickedness and lies, haughtiness and pride,
falseness and deceit, cruelty
and abundant evil, ill-temper and much folly and brazen insolence,
… so that man walks in all the ways of darkness and guile.1
After listing vices and virtues, the next section would have grabbed the Colossians’ attention: it upends the Roman household.
In ancient times, Roman families (the wife, children, and slaves in a household) lived under the rulership of the father figure, or pater familias. The Roman family was “described mainly through the exercise of power.”2 A pater familias controlled the money and property of every member of his family; he could even have his own children put to death.3
But Paul calls for a different kind of family. Without changing the institutions or roles in the ancient Roman household, Colossians instructs that every relationship operate through love.
This study will go through Colossians chapter 3, ending in 4:1.
Section 1
Colossians 3:1–44 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
The point: In God’s eyes, the Christian believer is totally united with Christ—both in his death and his resurrection.
Question: The section mentions “life” two times. What does it say?
Section 2
Colossians 3:5–11
3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
The point: Paul lists the vices that someone whose life is hidden in Christ should avoid, saying Christians should “put off” the people we once were and wrap ourselves in new selves created by God.
Question: How does the last verse of this section relate to what came before it? (Many answers are possible.)
Section 3
Colossians 3:12–17
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. 3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The point: Following the vices listed in section 2, Paul describes a godly posture of the heart and lists the virtues that flow from it.
Question: How many times is Jesus (or “the Lord”) mentioned in this section? Why do you think he is so prominent here?
Section 4
Colossians 3:18–4:1
3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
The point: One by one, Paul describes every relationship in the Roman household, not in terms of power, but of self-sacrifice and love. Perhaps remarkably, the Scripture doesn’t tell the church to abolish slavery; instead, it tells the whole family to live in love within their present circumstances.
Question 1: Do you see any household-member relationships left out of this section?
Question 2: According to 4:1, why should masters treat their slaves “with justice and fairness”?
Read through the text again below.5
Section 1
Colossians 3:1–4
3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
Section 2
Colossians 3:5–11
3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
Section 3
Colossians 3:12–17
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. 3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Section 4
Colossians 3:18–4:1
3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
Discussion and application questions
- The Scripture challenges us, here in Colossians, to live like the future reality is a present fact. Can you think of an example in modern life where you live like something in the future has already happened?
- Verse 5 of this chapter says greed is idolatry. If idolatry is defined as worshipping a god other than the God of the Bible, do you think this comparison works? If so, how?
- How do verses 19, 21, and 4:1 demonstrate God’s heart for the powerless?
- In verses 23–24, Paul instructs slaves to work “with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.” If you are employed, how would your job look if you worked “with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people”?
- Imagine that you are a Roman slave. You have no legal rights and you are considered property in the eyes of society. How would you feel after reading verse 11, “Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all,” and chapter 4 verse 1, “Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven”?
Conclusion
Challenge: In your service, whether it is work outside the home or helping your family, work at it with enthusiasm as if you are serving Jesus and not sinful people.
Blessing: May you clothe yourself in a heart of kindness, mercy, and humility. May you remember to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God through him.
Answer ideas:
Section 1:
Question: Our life is hidden with Christ in God, and Christ is our life.
Section 2:
Question: Many answers are possible.
Section 3:
Question: Four times. Answers will vary. Possible answers include: because Jesus is our standard for living, because everything we do we do in the Lord, because Paul is emphasizing the importance of Christ all throughout the letter, etc.
Section 4:
Question 1: Perhaps sibling relationships are left out—presumably because there are no special directions for them other than to love each other, like all the rest of the relationships in the Colossian church.
Question 2: “Because you know that you also have a master in heaven.”
Discussion and application questions:
- Example answers: dress for the job you want, not the job you have; when children go through books as though they already know how to read; etc.
- Answers will vary.
- Example answer: these verses describe three relationships that, in the ancient world, were characterized by power dynamics. In each verse, the Scripture instructs the member with more power / authority to treat the member of the relationship who has less power with care and kindness.
- Answers will vary.
- Answers will vary
- 1 QS 4.9–11 in G. Vermes, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (Harmondswordh; London: Penguin Books, 2004).[↩]
- B.W. Frier, T.A. McGinn, and J. Lidov, A Casebook on Roman Family Law (United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2004).[↩]
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, “patria potestas,” in Encyclopedia Britannica (online, 2016).[↩]
- Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.[↩]
- We find that rereading the text is very helpful—please don’t skip this part of the study![↩]
