Paul has more to say about slave/master relationship than about other family relationships. The reason is that this letter, Colossians, and Philemon, carried and delivered by Tychicus (4:7-8), addresses the situation about Onesimus, the runaway and recently born again slave belonging to Philemon. It is significant that the word “Lord,” referring to deity, occurs seven times (3:18, 20, 22, 23, 24; 4:1). The home life, all of life, is to be saturated with the acknowledgement that life is ordered by God.
Paul offers four characteristics that comprise a working relationship pleasing to our God: the relationship is . . . comprehensive (v. 22a, 23), conscientious (v. 22b, 25), confident (v. 24), and choice conduct (4:1).