The Christian Household: Colossians 3:18-4:1

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Lydia heard the words read in the assembly and thought of her husband. Gaius had come to faith after her—reluctantly at first, suspicious of this new religion that had captured his wife. But he had listened, and eventually he had believed.

As is fitting in the Lord. Not the submission of Greco-Roman custom, where wives were property. In the Lord—transformed by Christ, shaped by the gospel.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Gaius heard his instruction. Love your wives. The word was agapao—not eros, not mere affection, but the love that sought the other's good. Do not be harsh. The word pikraino meant to embitter, to provoke to resentment.

In Roman households, harshness was normal. Husbands were lords; wives were subordinates. But in Christ—husbands loved. Harshness was forbidden.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Their son Tertius squirmed on the bench. Obey your parents in everything. He was twelve, old enough to question, young enough to be required to obey.

For this pleases the Lord. The reason mattered. Not because parents were always right. Not because children had no value. Because obedience pleased the Lord.

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Gaius heard his second instruction. Do not embitter your children. Erethizo—provoke, irritate, exasperate. The father's power was real, but its abuse would break the child's spirit.

Or they will become discouraged. Athumeo—to lose heart, to become spiritless. Harsh fathers produced broken children. The gospel forbade it.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Onesimus listened. He was a slave in a Christian household—better than most, he knew. But still a slave. Still property. Still owned.

Obey your earthly masters in everything. The instruction stung. He had hoped the gospel would mean freedom. Instead—obedience.

But the qualifications mattered. Not only when their eye is on you. Not the servile performance that disappeared when the master looked away. Not to curry favor. Not manipulation, not calculation.

With sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. The master on earth was not the real master. Onesimus served the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Whatever you do. Every task. Work at it with all your heart. Not grudging compliance but genuine effort.

As working for the Lord, not for human masters. The transformation of work. The stable he cleaned, the meals he served, the errands he ran—all done for Christ.

Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

An inheritance. Slaves didn't inherit. By law, they had nothing. But in Christ—an inheritance. From the Lord. As a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving. The real employer was Christ. The human master was temporary. The divine Master was eternal.

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

The warning applied both ways. Masters who wronged slaves would be repaid. Slaves who wronged masters would be repaid. No favoritism. God judged impartially.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Philemon heard his instruction. Provide your slaves with what is right and fair. Dikaios and isotēs—justice and equity. Not just legal treatment but righteous treatment.

Because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. The master was also a slave. Owned by Christ. Accountable to a higher authority.

The household was not abolished. The structures remained. But everything was transformed.

Wives submitted—as to the Lord. Husbands loved—without harshness. Children obeyed—and fathers didn't provoke. Slaves served—as serving Christ. Masters provided fairly—knowing they too had a Master.

The gospel didn't burn down the Roman household. It rebuilt it from the inside.

Every relationship redefined by Christ.

Every power accountable to God.

Every person—wife, husband, child, father, slave, master—dignified by the gospel.

The world would notice.

Something was different in these Christian homes.

Something that looked like love.

Something that felt like respect.

Something that smelled like the kingdom.