Smoodock's Blog

I’ll begin this portion of the study of Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians by saying, there isn’t a place in scripture that describes a perfect marriage, perfect parenthood or perfect management and employee relations. This scripture (Colossians 3:18-25) and its parallel in Ephesians 5:22-29) have been used ignorantly, perhaps sincerely or by ulterior motive, by church leaders and counselors to put the husband as the head or leader of the wife in particular and the household in general. Yet, there are a number of reasons that one could list, wherein the husband wouldn’t be a logical fit to exercise any authority over his wife, or for that matter manage anything whether it be his household or a worldly organization. For example, what company would desire that a man under addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling be given positions of responsibility in their organization? Would such a man be fit to even handle his own household finances?

Family leadership is something that should be shared (Genesis 2:18). In his Epistle to the Ephesians Paul began his dissertation about “family” relationships by saying in Ephesians 5:21, “Submitting yourselves one to another out of reverence for Christ,” which if taken literally, how can we take Ephesians 5:22 literally, without an accompanying Husbands submit to your wives? Moreover, in Ephesians 5:32 Paul tells his readers that he really isn’t speaking literally. Instead, he is revealing a mystery about Christ and the Church.

In the context of Colossians 3:18-25, with 4:1 added, we don’t have the equivalent of Ephesians 5:32 to tell us Paul is speaking allegorically. So, is he speaking about Christ and the Church, or is his message to the Colossians of a more literal/physical nature? Well, given the fact that the Colossian church never met Paul, and not wishing to be misunderstood, Paul probably meant this part of his epistle to be taken literally, but, when Tychicus and Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9) arrive with his letter, they could reveal anything Paul had in mind, but was difficult to understand.

Therefore, if Paul wished Colossians 3:18-25 and 4:1 to be taken literally, what does that say about the Gospel in general and about Christians today in particular? Concerning the Gospel, as interpreted by Paul, there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28; cp. Colossians 3:11). In his Epistle to the Colossians the “male/female” is absent, and three other expressions are added: “circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian (i.e. foreigner, non-Greek), Scythian (uncivilized), slave or free.”

In my previous study, I said:

“In Christ, there is no such thing as a preferred believer (Colossians 3:11). In him there is neither Jew nor gentile, circumcision nor uncircumcision; neither is there the Greek (citizen) or the foreigner, civilized or the savage, slave or free, because Christ is in all and all are in Christ. There is no such thing as a better Christ or a better Spirit of Christ that dwells within the believer. Christ, (the Body of Christ) is all, and Christ is in all (who are his Body).”[1]

If there is to be no preferences over one another who are in Christ, because all are in Christ, vis-à-vis all are in the Body of Christ and the Spirit of Christ is in each one of us, what could Paul mean with “Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord?” First of all, the word “submit” doesn’t appear in all of the manuscripts at Ephesians 5:22, and in many where it is found, it doesn’t immediately follow “wives” In two manuscripts it appears after the word “husband.”[2]

What I believe Paul may be saying in Colossians 3:18-25 and 4:1, has to do with the Roman/Greek haustafel or household codes.[3] The fact that they are listed in scripture doesn’t make them binding upon Christians either in the first century AD or today. They are traditions of men, not of God. Paul doesn’t want the ministry blamed, so the Gospel isn’t hindered by the state. Instead, he advises the Colossian believers to be ready to sacrifice their rights as children of God in favor of not offending society in a manner that would hurt the Gospel (cp. Matthew 17:27; 1Corinthians 9:12, 22; 10:23-24).

At the end of the day, Paul was committed to bringing as many folks as possible under the influence of Christ, thus, changing the world. However, changing the world’s behavior was to be done through the influence of a good example, not revolutionary tactics, whether that would mean through violence or through political endeavor. Following Christ is to be done voluntarily, not by threat of violence or punishment of the law. The Gospel never violates mankind’s freewill.

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[1] See my study: Put on the New Man!

[2] See my earlier study, Concerning Wives Submitting.

[3] See my earlier study in the first Epistle of Peter: Haustafel or Household Codes. See also my earlier study about Patriarchy and the Church: Wives Submit to Your Husbands!