Episode 67: The Christian household

You may already be familiar with the famous (or infamous) passage in Ephesians 5 that teaches wives to submit to their husbands. Colossians contains a similar passage, in which he seeks the transformation of households from the inside out. But before we begin our exploration of what Paul says in 3:18—4:1, we’ll use this episode to give the historical background we need to read the passage rightly.

What is Chunks: Paul's Letter to the Colossians?

The church in the city of Colossae had recently been founded by one of the apostle Paul's colleagues; he had never met them personally. But he had heard of their faith and of some of the challenges that threatened to undermine that faith, including what seems to be the presence of false teachers who were leading them astray. Paul therefore writes to them from prison, lovingly encouraging them to realize the treasure they already have in the gospel. In so doing, he paints a magnificent and cosmic portrait of the Christ in whom they've already believed, and in whom they've been given a new and transformed nature. His words should help remind believers of every time and place that the Christ we worship is supreme. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages will be read from the New International Version.)