Colossians 3 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To see what Paul offers as the Christian solution in dealing with
   the problem of sin

2) To understand what our responsibilities are as "the elect of God, 
   holy and beloved"

SUMMARY

Having warned the brethren of the "Colossian Heresy", and the need to 
be established in the faith of Jesus Christ, Paul now offers a detailed
description of "The Christian Solution" to the problem of sin in their
lives.  Rather than being deceived or swayed by false alternatives,
they need to seek those things above, where Christ is, to set their
minds on things above and not on the earth.  This is because they have 
been raised with Christ (cf. Col 2:12) and their life is now hidden in
Christ, awaiting the day of His coming in which they will appear with 
Him in glory (1-4).

With minds set on Christ, they need to "put to death" those sins in 
which their earthly members engaged, and upon which the wrath of God is
coming.  This is done by "putting off" the old man with his deeds, and 
"putting on" the new man who is being renewed in knowledge after the 
image of Christ.  The deeds of the old man and the characteristics of 
the new man are defined by Paul, followed with exhortations to allow 
the "peace of God" to rule in their hearts and to let the "word of 
Christ" dwell in them richly.  He also charges them to do all things in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father (5-17).

As so much of their daily lives revolve around the home, Paul also 
addresses the responsibilities of various family members as they serve
the Lord (18-4:1).

OUTLINE

I. THE CHRISTIAN SOLUTION (1-17)

   A. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE (1-4)
      1. Since you were raised with Christ, seek those things above
         (1-2)
         a. Where Christ is, seated at God's right hand (1)
         b. Not on the things on the earth (2)
      2. For you have died, one day to appear with Christ in glory
         (3-4)
         a. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God (3)
         b. When Christ appears, you will also appear with Him in glory
            (4)

   B. PUT OFF THE OLD MAN (5-9)
      1. Put to death the members of your body (5)
         a. Fornication 
         b. Uncleanness
         c. Passion
         d. Evil desire
         e. Covetousness, which is idolatry
         -- For the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of 
            disobedience, and you also once walked in such things (6-7)
      2. Put off the old man with his deeds (8-9)
         a. Anger
         b. Wrath
         c. Malice
         d. Blasphemy
         e. Filthy language
         f. Lying to one another

   C. PUT ON THE NEW MAN (10-17)
      1. In which you are renewed in the image of our Creator, where 
         there is neither:
         a. Greek nor Jew
         b. Circumcised nor uncircumcised
         c. Barbarian, Scythian
         d. Slave nor free
         -- But Christ, who is all and in all (10-11)
      2. As God's elect, put on Christ-like qualities (12-14)
         a. Tender mercies
         b. Kindness
         c. Humbleness of mind
         d. Meekness
         e. Longsuffering
         f. Bearing with one another
         g. Forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you
         h. Above all these things, put on love, the perfect tie that
            binds
      3. In addition...
         a. Let God's peace rule in your heart, and be thankful (15)
         b. Let Christ's word dwell in you richly, teaching and 
            admonishing one another with song, singing with grace in 
            your hearts to the Lord (16)
         c. Do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, with 
            thanksgiving to God (17)

II. FAMILIAL RESPONSIBILITIES (18-4:1)

   A. WIVES TOWARD THEIR HUSBANDS (18)
      1. Submit to your own husbands
      2. As is fitting in the Lord

   B. HUSBANDS TOWARDS THEIR WIVES (19)
      1. Love your wives
      2. Do not be bitter toward them

   C. CHILDREN TOWARD THEIR PARENTS (20)
      1. Obey your parents in all things
      2. This is well pleasing to the Lord

   D. FATHERS TOWARD THEIR CHILDREN (21)
      1. Do not provoke your children
      2. Or they may become discouraged

   E. SERVANTS TOWARD THEIR MASTERS (22-25)
      1. Obey your earthly masters in all things (22)
         a. Not with eye-service, seeking only to please men
         b. But with sincerity of heart, fearing God
      2. Do your work heartily (23-24)
         a. As to the Lord and not to men (23)
         b. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance
            (24)
      3. He who does wrong... (25)
         a. Will be repaid for the wrong he does
         b. There will be no partiality

   F. MASTERS TOWARD THEIR SERVANTS (4:1)
      1. Give your servants what is just and fair
      2. Knowing that you also have a Master in heaven

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The Christian solution (1-17)
   - Familial responsibilities (18-4:1)

2) What two-fold charge is given to those who have been raised with 
   Christ? (1-2)
   - Seek those things which are above, where Christ is
   - Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth

3) Where is our "life" at the present?  When shall it appear? (3-4)
   - Hidden with Christ in God
   - When Christ appears (i.e., His Second Coming)

4) What sins are we to "put to death"? (5)
   - Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness
     (which is idolatry)

5) Why must we put them to death? (6)
   - Because the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience

6) What other sins must we "put off"? (8,9)
   - Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying to one 
     another

7) What have we "put off", and what have we "put on"? (9-10)
   - We have "put off the old man with his deeds"
   - We have "put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
     to the image of Him who created him" (i.e., Christ)

8) As God's elect (chosen), holy and beloved, what are we to "put on"?
   (12-14)
   - Tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, 
     longsuffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another as
     Christ forgave us, and love

9) What must we allow the "peace of God" do? (15)
   - Rule in our hearts

10) What must we allow the "word of Christ" do? (16)
   - Dwell in our hearts richly

11) How are we to teach and admonish one another? (16)
   - In psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our
     hearts to the Lord

12) How are we to do all things, whether in word or deed? (17)
   - In the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father 
     through Him

13) What is the duty of wives? (18)
   - To submit to their own husbands

14) What is the duty of husbands? (19)
   - To love their wives and not be bitter toward them

15) What is the duty of children? (20)
   - To obey their parents in all things

16) What is the duty of fathers? (21)
   - Not to provoke their children

17) What is the duty of servants? (22-23)
   - To obey their masters in all things
   - Not with eye-service, as pleasing men, but in sincerity of heart,
     fearing God
   - To do all things heartily, as to the Lord

18) What positive motivation is there for a servant to so act?  What
    negative motivation? (24-25)
   - Serving the Lord Christ, they will receive the reward of the 
     inheritance
   - Those who do wrong will be repaid, with no partiality being shown

19) What is the duty of masters?  What motivation is offered to do 
    this? (4:1)
   - To give their servants what is just and fair
   - They too have a Master, one who is heaven
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