Relationships - Part 3

We are going to pickup where we left off several weeks ago in Colossians.

The last few weeks we spoke about husbands, wives, children, slaves and masters

You know, the light, uncontroversial stuff!

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in all things, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you may do, work from the soul, as for the Lord and not for people. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the share of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ. For the one doing wrong will receive back what he did wrong, and there is no partiality. Masters, grant what is just and equal to your slaves, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:22-4:1)

I made an argument that we in the west have problems with this because we ‘feel’ like we are removed from slavery.

Yet, there are ~50 million people in slavery today

~28 m in forced labor

~22 m in forced marriage

FOR THE ONE DOING WRONG:

Let’s look at some key words…

Wrongdoer: one who is unjust, and this is a key item in God’s eyes

One who does injustice is defined as wicked in scripture

Paid back: The one who receives what they give to others

You function with love, generosity, mercy…this is what you receive

Partiality: There is no distinction in God’s eyes

We already know this from the previous section (no Greek or Judean…)

Let me tell you the challenge in this verse:

If Paul is seriously writing to believers in Colossae, then how does this work…

Salvation is by grace through faith, yeah…

So when does this ‘pay back of wrongdoing’ happen?

You ever thought about that?

Imagine, you wake up to eternity to find you owe because of wrongdoing…

Theology tries to ignore this or explain it away…

Why make this warning?

MASTERS, TREAT YOUR:

So, the warning of Paul is to the masters

Those terms ‘just’ and ‘equal’ are vital

Why equal?

Continue steadfastly in prayer, keeping watch in it with thanksgiving, at the same time praying also for us, so that God may open for us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of the Anointed One, on account of which I am also bound, so that I may make it manifest, as it is necessary for me to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time. Let your word always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one. (Colossians 4:2-6)

1. From collapsed hierarchy to disciplined allegiance (4:2)

προσκαρτερεῖτε τῇ προσευχῇ “Continue steadfastly in prayer”

Prayer here is not private piety. In Second Temple Jewish thought, prayer is an act of allegiance. Since Christ now holds the dominion once exercised by the sons of God, ongoing prayer is the way the new humanity remains aligned with the true ruler rather than drifting back under rival dominions.

γρηγοροῦντες “keeping watch”

This is vigilance language. In a Deut 32 frame, vigilance is required because hostile powers still exist, though disarmed. The community lives between decisive victory and final removal. Watchfulness replaces fear of cosmic rulers.

2. Proclamation as reclamation of the nations (4:3–4)

θύραν τοῦ λόγου “a door for the word”

In Acts and Paul’s letters, an open door means access to peoples, not merely opportunity. Paul is asking for prayer so that the message of the Messiah can move into spaces once governed by other dominions.

τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ

“the mystery of Christ”

Paul answered the question of ‘mystery’ in Col 1:27

God made known how great among the gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery…

Which is ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’

In Colossians, the mystery is not abstract salvation. It is that the Messiah now rules where other powers once ruled, and Gentiles are included without submitting to Jewish or cosmic hierarchies.

Paul’s imprisonment itself reflects dominion conflict. He is bound by earthly powers while proclaiming the ruler who has stripped heavenly powers.

3. Wisdom replaces domination in relations with outsiders (4:5)

περιπατεῖτε ἐν σοφίᾳ πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω

“Walk in wisdom toward those outside”

Those outside are not enemies. They are peoples formerly under other dominions. Wisdom here echoes Israel’s vocation to model allegiance to Yahweh among the nations.

ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν

“buying up the time”

This is economic language applied to mission. Time under the dominion of Christ must not be wasted on rivalry, hierarchy, or cultural superiority. Every moment is an opportunity to reclaim loyalty from false rulers.

4. Speech as non coercive authority (4:6)

ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι

“Let your word always be with grace”

This is crucial. The new dominion does not advance by force, threat, or domination, which is how the sons of God ruled the nations. It advances by persuasive, gracious speech.

ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος

“seasoned with salt”

Salt is interesting…You might not know this, but salt is a component

πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι

“how it is necessary for you to answer each one”

Each one matters. This assumes the collapse of group based ranking. Greeks, barbarians, Scythians, slaves, and free are all addressed as persons, not as representatives of a dominion.

One sentence conclusion

Because Christ now holds the dominion once exercised by the sons of God, the community must live as a non hierarchical, watchful, prayer shaped people whose speech and conduct reclaim the nations without reproducing the old systems of power.

Paul is wrapping up here because he needs people to understand their relationship to one another

5. The flow of the argument as a whole

Colossians 3:11–12 declares the end of dominion based identity. Colossians 4:2–6 shows how a people who believe that actually live.

Instead of: • enforcing boundaries • asserting superiority • fearing cosmic powers • replicating social rank

They: • pray in allegiance to the true ruler • proclaim the reclaiming of the nations • walk wisely among former rivals • speak graciously rather than coercively

“Christ’s dominion ends hierarchy and creates a people who reclaim the world without ruling it.”

Alternates

When Christ rules all, his people no longer rule over anyone.

I can hear it now…”But Jeremy, there are kings in scripture!”

Yes, they were given as a punishment for disloyalty to the true and only King, Yahweh God himself

If you don’t know the story, go read the book of Samuel and you will find it (1 Sam 8)

Relationships - Part 3