Colossians 3:19-23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:20

Children, obey - in all things - That is, in the Lord - in every thing that your parents command you, which is not contrary to the will or word of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:21

Fathers, provoke not - See the notes on Ephesians 6:4 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:22

Servants, obey - See on Ephesians 6:5-8 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:20

Verse 20 20Children, obey your parents. He enjoins it upon children to obey their parents, (458) without any exception. But what if parents (459) should feel disposed to constrain them to anything that is unlawful; will they in that case, too, obey without any reservation? Now it were worse than unreasonable, that the, authority of men should prevail at the expense of neglecting God. I answer, that here, too, we must understand as implied what he expresses elsewhere, (Ephesians 6:1) — in the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 3:22

Verse 22 22Servants, be obedient. Anything that is stated here respecting servants requires no exposition, as it has been already expounded in commenting on Ephesians 6:1, with the exception of these two expressions, — For we serve the Lord Christ; and, He that will act unjustly will receive the reward of his iniquity. By the former statement he means, that service is done to men in such a way that Christ at the same time holds supremacy of dominion, and is the supreme master. Here, truly, is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:18-19

Husbands and wives. Notice the honour given to marriage by Moses ( Genesis 2:23 , Genesis 2:24 ), and still more by Christ ( Matthew 5:31 , Matthew 5:32 ; Matthew 19:3-9 ) and his apostles ( Ephesians 5:22-33 ; 1 Timothy 4:3 ; 1 Timothy 5:14 ; Hebrews 13:4 , etc.). Christianity a gospel of great joy to the world's suffering women. But blessings rest upon law. The nearer marriage is brought to God the more sacred its duties become. In Colossians 3:18 , Colossians 3:19 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:18-19

Husbands and wives. (See on Ephesians 5:22 , Ephesians 5:23 .)—W.F.A. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:18-21

The Christian view of family life. The spirit which was abroad in the early Colossian Church was at once so ascetic and so pietistic that it undervalued home, depreciated family ties, despised human relationships. We have heard Paul boldly meet this spirit with the great doctrine that Christ is the Fulness of all things, Sustainer of all, Mediator of all, King of all, End of all. Here, and in preceding paragraphs, he is meeting detailed developments of that evil spirit by detailed precepts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:19

Ye husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them ( Ephesians 5:25-31 ; 1 Peter 3:7 ). "Love" is ἀγαπάω , the word which expresses the highest spiritual affection—"even as Christ loved the Church" ( Ephesians 5:25 ). Here, first and most of all, the "new commandment" of John 13:34 applies. St. Paul only uses the verb πικραίνω ("to make bitter") here, but he has the noun πικρία ("bitterness") in a wider application in Ephesians 4:31 . It denotes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 3:19

The duties of husbands. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." I. THE DUTY OF LOVE . This love, which is consistent with his headship over her, implies: 1 . That he is to delight in her ( Proverbs 5:18 , Proverbs 5:19 ), and please her ( 1 Corinthians 7:33 ). 2 . That he is to cherish her as Christ the Church ( Ephesians 5:29 ), providing for her support and comfort ( 1 Timothy 5:3 ). 3 . That he is to protect her as the weaker... read more

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