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    Colossians 3:18-4:6
    Lesson 389

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Life in the Christian home.
     
    Love and submit.
     
    Look for the commands in verses 3:18-4:1.
     
    And pray (4:2-4).

    Jesus at twelve.
    ​
    By J. M. Hoffman ​
    Study Tip:
     
    Make yourself a better person by applying Biblical lessons to your life.​

    The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Colossians

    The King James Bible    ​



    Colossians 3:18-4:6
    Relationships

    18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 
     
    19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
     
    20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
     
    21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
     
    22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
     
    23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
     
    24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
     
    25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
                       

    Colossians 4:1-6
    Pray
     
    1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
     
    2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
     
    3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
     
    4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
     
    5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
     
    6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." (3:18) - Submit means to defer or give way to the other, to assume responsibility for, care for and carry the burden of the other.  The Bible teaches husbands and wives to submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21).
     
    "Love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (3:19) - "Love your wives and don't be harsh with them."  This is an important message repeated from Ephesians 5:25.
     
    "Children, obey your parents." (3:20) - Notice children are not asked to submit, but to obey.  To obey means to do as one is told, to follow orders, to abide by, and to conform.  A person who obeys is controlled by the other.  This message is reinforced by Ephesians 6:1.
     
    "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger." (3:21) - Parents should nurture their children and raise them to love God (Ephesians 6:4).
     
    "Not with eyeservice." (3:22) - Means always do what's right, not just when being watched.
     
    "In singleness of heart." (3:22) - "With sincerity."
     
    "Do it heartily, as to the Lord." (3:23) - "Do it from the heart, like you were doing it for the Lord."
     
    "Ye shall receive the reward." (3:24) - Those who serve the Lord will be rewarded (Ephesians 6:8); those who don't will not (see verse 3:25).
     
    "Ye serve the Lord Christ." (3:24) - Who serves Jesus?  All who are called to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:22).
     
    "He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done." (3:25) - Punishment awaits the sinner. 
     
    "There is no respect of persons." (3:25) - Regardless of who we are, God shows no partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9).
     
    "Continue in prayer." (4:2) - Another critical teaching, repeated from Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, and Ephesians 6:18. 
     
    "Withal praying also for us." (4:3) - "Meanwhile, pray for us."
     
    "That god would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ." (4:3) - "That God will give us an opportunity to speak about the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 6:19)."  The prayer for an "open door" was answered in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 2:12.
     
    "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (4:4) - "That I may make it clear, as I should."
     
    "Them that are without." (4:5) - "Those without (Christ)." 
     
    "Redeeming the time." (4:5) - Use your time wisely to spread the Gospel.  Do you know someone who needs a kind word, prayer, or the Gospel?  
     
    "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt." (4:6) - This was a common phase in Paul's day.  Just as salting meat improves the taste and keeps it from going bad, salting our words improves their flavor and keeps them from decaying into obscene, insulting, vile, or foolish talk.
     
    "Know how ye ought to answer every man." (4:6) - Be prepared to address everyone's questions (1 Peter 3:15).
    For more life advice and instructions on fostering relationships, see Ephesians 5:18-6:9.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Colossians 3:18-4:6
    Instructions for Christian Households
     
    18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
     
    19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
     
    20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.

    21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
     
    22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.

    23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

    24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

    25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

     
    Colossians 4:1-6  

    1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master-in heaven.

    An Encouragement for Prayer

    2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

    3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.

    4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

    5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

    ​6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
    ​     
    1.  What is a duty of all Believers?



    "Lord, show me how to love you."
    ​    A short prayer by an unknown author.
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. The job of believers is to pray (4:2-4).



    ​Application thought for the day:
     
    "Continue in prayer." (4:2)
     
    Jesus gave thanks and demonstrated the importance of showing gratitude to God when He fed the multitudes with seven loaves and fishes (Matthew 15:36), and again at the Last Supper (Luke 22:17-19).
    Using prayer to thank God for our blessings (Psalm 107:1) shows humility.
     
    How much better would the world be if it understood and used the power of prayer?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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