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Things above VS things below
1 Furthermore, since you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God's right; 2 set your mind on the things above, not on those upon the earth, 3 because you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.* What does it mean to have one's life “hidden” in God? I imagine it has to do with protection and security. 4 Whenever Christ, our† Instead of “our”, perhaps 10% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘your’ (as in NIV, LB, TEV, etc.). life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.‡ I suppose that this refers to Christ's second coming to set up His Messianic (Millennial) Kingdom.
5 Therefore put to death your members that are on the earth:§ A curious turn of phrase, ‘members on the earth’; perhaps the point is that the things listed belong to this earth and cannot leave it. There will be nothing of the sort in Heaven. fornication, filthiness, passion, evil desire, and the greediness that is idolatry.* That is what the Text says, “the greediness that is idolatry”, which leads me to suppose that there may be a greediness that is not, but I do not know which it might be. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of the disobedience,† “The sons of the disobedience” is a Pauline phrase that he also uses in Ephesians 2:2 and 5:6. The reference is to people who are characterized by disobedience to God; they have deliberately chosen the side of evil, and therefore are worthy candidates for God's wrath. Perhaps 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “upon the sons of the disobedience” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.). 7 in which things you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all these—anger, rage, malice, slander, obscene speech—out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old man with his practices 10 and have put on the new one, who is being renewed into real knowledge according to the image of his Creator, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.‡ ‘Nationalism’ has no legitimate place in the Church. There will be no ‘Americans’, ‘Brazilians’, ‘Russians’, ‘Chinese’, etc. in Heaven—there will only be true disciples of Sovereign Jesus.
Relationships among believers
12 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; 13 bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone should have a complaint against another—just as the Christ§ Instead of “Christ”, perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘Lord’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). forgave you, so you also must do. 14 And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.* Agape love is unselfish, genuinely concerned for the other's well-being.
15 Let the peace of God† Instead of “God”, some 5% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘Christ’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). rule in your hearts, into which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing with grace in your heart to the Lord,‡ Instead of “the Lord”, perhaps 4% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘God’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.§ Our singing is supposed to reflect “the Word of Christ”. Indeed, all of our teaching and admonishing should be based on that Word.
17 Whatever you may do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.* We thank God for the privilege.
Household relationships
18 Wives, subordinate yourselves to your own husbands,† In these verses we have a series of verbs in the imperative mood; they are commands. A woman who subordinates herself to her husband will be doing herself a favor (it makes it easier for him to love her). as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.‡ Right on! That is just how men tend to react, being frustrated by women's wiles and quite different way of thinking. But a man who has the good sense to give value to that different way of thinking will come out ahead.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, because this is well pleasing in the Lord.§ So of course such commands must not be contrary to God's moral code.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children so that they lose heart.* Unreasonable demands, harsh treatment, lack of clear guidelines—there are various ways to frustrate children and cause them to lose heart, and even give up. In today's world they will probably cop out by going to drugs, or the Internet (both of which leave them wide open to demonic influence).
22 Slaves, obey your masters (according to the flesh) in all things, not just when they are looking, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.† Notice that slavery is not condemned; a slave who converted to Christ could not expect to go free; rather he was expected to be a better slave! Instead of “God”, perhaps 10% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘the Lord’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 23 And whatever you do, give it all you've got,‡ If a human owner is to be served in this way, how much more a divine Owner! as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward; because you serve the Lord Christ. 25 (But he who does wrong will be repaid for this wrong, and there is no favoritism.)§ Being saved does not mean we get a free ride.

*3:3 What does it mean to have one's life “hidden” in God? I imagine it has to do with protection and security.

†3:4 Instead of “our”, perhaps 10% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘your’ (as in NIV, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡3:4 I suppose that this refers to Christ's second coming to set up His Messianic (Millennial) Kingdom.

§3:5 A curious turn of phrase, ‘members on the earth’; perhaps the point is that the things listed belong to this earth and cannot leave it. There will be nothing of the sort in Heaven.

*3:5 That is what the Text says, “the greediness that is idolatry”, which leads me to suppose that there may be a greediness that is not, but I do not know which it might be.

†3:6 “The sons of the disobedience” is a Pauline phrase that he also uses in Ephesians 2:2 and 5:6. The reference is to people who are characterized by disobedience to God; they have deliberately chosen the side of evil, and therefore are worthy candidates for God's wrath. Perhaps 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “upon the sons of the disobedience” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.).

‡3:11 ‘Nationalism’ has no legitimate place in the Church. There will be no ‘Americans’, ‘Brazilians’, ‘Russians’, ‘Chinese’, etc. in Heaven—there will only be true disciples of Sovereign Jesus.

§3:13 Instead of “Christ”, perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘Lord’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

*3:14 Agape love is unselfish, genuinely concerned for the other's well-being.

†3:15 Instead of “God”, some 5% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘Christ’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡3:16 Instead of “the Lord”, perhaps 4% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘God’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§3:16 Our singing is supposed to reflect “the Word of Christ”. Indeed, all of our teaching and admonishing should be based on that Word.

*3:17 We thank God for the privilege.

†3:18 In these verses we have a series of verbs in the imperative mood; they are commands. A woman who subordinates herself to her husband will be doing herself a favor (it makes it easier for him to love her).

‡3:19 Right on! That is just how men tend to react, being frustrated by women's wiles and quite different way of thinking. But a man who has the good sense to give value to that different way of thinking will come out ahead.

§3:20 So of course such commands must not be contrary to God's moral code.

*3:21 Unreasonable demands, harsh treatment, lack of clear guidelines—there are various ways to frustrate children and cause them to lose heart, and even give up. In today's world they will probably cop out by going to drugs, or the Internet (both of which leave them wide open to demonic influence).

†3:22 Notice that slavery is not condemned; a slave who converted to Christ could not expect to go free; rather he was expected to be a better slave! Instead of “God”, perhaps 10% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘the Lord’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡3:23 If a human owner is to be served in this way, how much more a divine Owner!

§3:25 Being saved does not mean we get a free ride.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD