The Christian Home

The Christian life is first personal and then social, and the same principles are intended for both spheres. At this point the application of the fore¬ going principles is made to home life. The Christians were to “show piety at home” (Titus 2:5) and thereby to prove the reality and power of their spiritual life. A man once asked, “Is so-and-so a Christian?”, and the reply was given, “I do not know, I have never lived with him.” Three instances are used, expressive of the three main social relationships of life.

I. Wives and Husbands (vs. 18, 19)

Wives are exhorted to submission. Bishop Moule renders this by “loyalty” because this suggests better the idea of a wife’s attitude, which is religious, and yet not in the strict sense of the term, service. This appeal for submission is in no sense contradictory of the essential oneness of male and female in Christ (Gal. 3 :28), because grace never contradicts nature. Nor is there anything incongruous or inappropriate to Christian womanhood, because “order is heaven’s first law” in every sphere of life (1 Cor. 11:3). This exhortation is enforced by the wife’s relation to Christ. Because she is in Christ she is to love as befits that relationship of union, for those who are one with Him will readily and gladly fulfil His word.

Husbands are exhorted to love their wives. It has often been pointed out that there is no word expressive of the opposite of submission, like “order” or “command.” Sub¬ mission, not commanding, is emphasised. Love includes

The Christian Home, 3:18-4:1 everything that a husband should be to a wife, because here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, love is not a mere feeling but a fact, not emotion but devotion, not attitude but action, not sentiment but sacrifice. The addition is made that husbands are not to be “bitter” against their wives, expressing the absence of all selfish¬ ness, temper, and lack of true consideration from the life of the Christian husband. Comparison should be made between this and the corresponding but much longer passage in the companion epistle (Eph. 5:22-33), where the husband’s attitude to the wife is specially emphasised as illustrated by the relation of Christ to the Church.

II. Children and Parents (vs. 20, 21)

Children are exhorted to obey their parents in all things, and the reason is again the highest possible one, expressive of their relation to Christ, “this is well-pleasing in the Lord.” The thought of giving pleasure to Christ is a fine and inspiring reason for children to obey and one that should make its appeal to the experience of the young.

Fathers are not to provoke their children, an exhortation which probably includes all undue hardness, while of course maintaining proper discipline. Children may easily lose heart by overmuch severity, and this condition of soul easily leads to wrong-doing. All who are associated with children know how easy it is to discourage them, and how powerful in their training and development is the element of encouragement.

III. Servants and Masters (3:22-4:1)

It is striking that this subject is dealt with far more fully than the other two. Lightfoot and Rutherford think this is due to the special circumstances of Onesimus being sent back to Colosse to his master. Some writers consider that as the relationship of master and slave was not so natural and essential as the others, it needed a fuller and more urgent treatment. Perhaps both these thoughts may be combined. There is a sevenfold appeal to the slave, which is very significant, (a) He is called upon for obedience (v. 22). (b) This is to be genuine obedi¬

ence, coming out of an undivided heart (v. 22) and free from all improper obsequiousness (Matt. 6:22). (c) It

was also to be a thorough obedience (v. 23) proceeding from the soul and expressive of all the power of the inner being, (d) It was also to be a spiritual obedience (v. 23), as the slave was conscious of the Lord as the One to whom his service was really being rendered, (e) It was also an encouraging obedience (v. 24) since the slave was told that he would be rewarded by Christ who knew what he was doing and why he was doing it. (f) It was an obedience which was really a privilege (v. 24), for in serving his earthly master he was actually serving Christ as well. This would give a special color to the humblest service day by day. (g) And yet it must be a righteous obedience, because if he did wrong there would be judgment, since God is no respecter of persons. While there is no merit attached to our work, there is a blessed and adequate reward of faithfulness.

The master is pretty certainly included in this reminder (v. 25), because it was possible for him to do his slave an injustice, and if this should happen he too would be dealt with impartially by God who is absolutely just. This gives a special point to the exhortation to the masters to render to their slaves what was “just and equal,” inasmuch as these masters were themselves the servants of a Master in heaven. It is interesting to notice that while the Apostle does not say a word about emancipation, it was certain to come, as it actually did come, by Christian masters doing that which was “just and equal.” With such funda-The Christian Home, 3:18-4:1 mental principles, slavery would be thoroughly and permanently undermined and destroyed.

1. The reality of home life is here specially emphasised, and it is impossible to exaggerate the value of a true Christian home. “‘There’s no place like home.” It is Christianity, more than any other religion, that has made possible pure, loving and unselfish home life. The requirements are few and simple, as may be seen from this passage. No home needs an elaborate and complicated set of rules to realise its true life. If only parents, children, and servants carry out what is so clearly set forth here, there will be no question about the peace, joy, blessedness and power of homes everywhere.

2. But the most striking feature of all is the way in which everything in the home is related to God. Seven times over this thought of everything being done in His sight is presented in this passage. Wives are to submit “in the Lord” (v. 18); children are to obey “in the Lord” (v. 20); servants are to “fear the Lord” (v. 21); they are to work as “unto the Lord” (v. 23); they will receive their reward “from the Lord” (v. 24); they serve “the Lord Christ” (v. 24), and masters are to be true because they, too, have a “Master in heaven” (4:1). Thus salvation, sanctification, sympathy, submission, and service are all associated with Christ.