The Letter to the Colossians and the Letter to PhilemonSample

Paul now gives us some examples of what life as a "new person" looks like. How can we live in loving relationships—as married couples, as parents, as masters and slaves?

From our perspective, it is difficult to grasp how radical these statements about children, women, and slaves truly are. Slaves were not people but property. Children were under the authority of the father, who could decide on their life, death, or sale. They had no rights of their own and were completely subject to their father's whim. And legally, women had limited capacity to conduct business and often remained under the authority of their father or husband. They generally had no independent rights over property or divorce.

In the so-called "Household Codes," Paul directly addresses these three groups (women, children, and slaves)—who legally had no voice at all. The fact that they are addressed directly in the church shows that before God, they are full members of the body of Christ.

The focus is important: our motivation should not be to please people but to serve God from the heart. The relationship between slaves and masters was a very real and current situation for Paul at the time. As he writes the letter, a runaway slave is standing next to him—but more on that in a few days.

What truly motivates me to do good?