Author: M. Kevin McKee
Table of Contents
PDF version
(118K)
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Study Guide: Colossians: Clear Direction for Life
Author: M. Kevin McKee Table of Contents |
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Read the passage twice (or more) and consider the following questions:
1. What are characteristics of your new self, God’s chosen people (v.12-17)? Read also: Galatians 5. 22-23. Compare with characteristics of your old self (2.20-23, 3.3-9).
2. How does love bind all these virtues (v.12-13) together? Read also: 1 Corinthians 13.4-7.
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Rule v. 15 “Basically the meaning of ‘rule’ is let it be umpire. Since the umpire's decision is very important, it is easy to see how the meaning let it rule arose.” Hendrickson | |||||
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4. What is the difference between submit (v.18) and obey (v. 20, 22)?
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Repaid v. 25 The NIV's translation of “repaid” can be misleading. It seems to suggest retribution from God. A better and more literal translation would be “receive.” The point of the verse is that there are natural consequences to sin, not that there is retribution. MKM | |||||
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a. Our inheritance as believers in Christ (v. 24)b. Jesus’ work on the crossc. Consequences of sin
Something to think about...
“Wives submit!” Taken out of context, this idea has been greatly abused to keep wives “in their place!” Unfortunately the out-of-context idea has also been a spiritualized excuse for abuse! What does the New Testament teach? I don’t think the New Testament teaches that a marriage needs to resemble the patriarchal marriages of the first century. If this were so then one could argue that it also encourages slavery (slaves are told to submit just as wives are—that doesn’t suggest that Paul is promoting slavery or patriarchal marriages—see Col. 3.22 and Eph. 6.5). In the context we see that submission is always “as to the Lord” for followers of Christ. It is also part of mutual submission out of respect for Christ (Eph. 5.21) ~ a radical idea in the first century that husbands would also submit! When we read the proceeding context in Ephesians and Colossians (Eph. 5.15ff, Col. 3.15ff) it becomes clear that all parties, masters, slaves, husbands, wives and children who are in relationship with Christ are to respond to one another with love, patience, and humility as they are led by the Spirit of God. There is no room in the context for controlling behavior or manipulation from any party, especially husbands. They are to treat their wives with honor as Christ did the Church, dying and cherishing her (Eph. 5.25). They are also to protect (1 Peter 3.7)! Wives following Christ will likely find such an attitude worthy of respect (Eph. 5.33).
Wives submit? I like how Eugene Peterson translates Ephesians 5 in The Message,
| “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Wives understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support of Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.” |
Life Response
1. If you clothe yourself with the virtues in v.12-13 how will this impact your relationships with:
a. Your family
b. Neighbors
c. Church
d. Community
2. What is your plan to:
a. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (v.15)?
b. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (v.16)?
c. Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (v.16)?
d. Give thanks to God (v.15, 16, 17)?
3. If I really took God’s teaching in this passage seriously (3.18-4.1) how would this impact my relationships with my:
a. Spouse
b. Parents
c. Children
d. Boss