Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them.This must be understood in the light of Ephesians 5:28-33. Paul did not need to spell everything out in each of the epistles, because he specifically instructed that his writings should be passed around and made available to others, beyond those addressed in the salutation (Colossians 4:16). read more
Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord."Well-pleasing in the Lord ... fitting in the Lord (Colossians 3:18) ... fearing the Lord (Colossians 3:22) ... as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23) ... ye serve the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:24) ..." Notice that all of the persons addressed regarding their personal and domestic duties were continually reminded of being "in the Lord," and therefore as having "put on" the graces and virtues commanded earlier in... read more
Colossians 3:20. Children, obey—in all things:— That is, "which are lawful, or to which the parental authority extends." This must be understood with some such limitation; and there can be no hurt in supplying the sense from Col 3:18 with εν κυριω, in the Lord; and so it is expressed, Ephesians 6:1. That is, "as the Lord requires you, and as far as is consistent with your duty to him." read more
17. Literally, "And everything whatsoever ye do . . . do all," c. this includes words as well as deeds. in the name of the Lord Jesus—as disciples called by His name as His, seeking His guidance and help, and desiring to act so as to gain His approval (Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:11). Compare "in the Lord," 1 Peter 4:11- :, and "Christ is all," 1 Peter 4:11- :. God and the Father—The oldest manuscripts omit "and," which seems to have crept in from Ephesians... read more
18. unto your own husbands—The oldest manuscripts omit "own," which crept in from :-. as it is fit in the Lord—Greek, "was fit," implying that there was at Colosse some degree of failure in fulfilling this duty, "as it was your duty to have done as disciples of the Lord." read more
19. ( :-.) be not bitter—ill-tempered and provoking. Many who are polite abroad, are rude and bitter at home because they are not afraid to be so there. read more
20. ( :-.) unto the Lord—The oldest manuscripts read, "IN the Lord," that is, this is acceptable to God when it is done in the Lord, namely, from the principle of faith,and as disciples in union with the Lord. read more
B. The proper method 3:5-17"Colossians 3:1-4 has provided the perspective from which the daily life of the Colossian Christians should be lived out. Now follows more specific advice that should help them the better to carry out the thematic exhortation to ’walk in him’ (Colossians 2:6)." [Note: Dunn, p. 211.] read more
2. Things to put on 3:12-17Paul urged his readers not only to divest themselves of behavior that is inappropriate to their union with Christ but also to clothe themselves with attitudes and actions that are appropriate. He did so to complete their understanding of their responsibilities as Christians."The emphasis in this section is on motives. Why should we put off the old deeds and put on the qualities of the new life? Paul explained four motives that ought to encourage us to walk in newness... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Colossians 3:18
Wives be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.This begins Paul's instructions on certain reciprocal relationships, that of wives and husbands being treated first. See extensive teaching on this in Ephesians 5:22-33, where Paul elaborated it. The glorious difference between the Christian conception of duty and that prevalent in the world of Paul's day lies in the fact that obligations, even the sacred obligations in marriage, are "reciprocal" obligations. The duty is never... read more