Bible Study

In the three examples of household relationships, Paul always addresses both parties to that relationship. In addressing the traditionally subservient party, Paul gives them a share in the responsibility to maintain the good order of the household. In addressing the traditionally dominate party, Paul gives him reciprocal obligations.

The very basis of Paul’s household codes is his introductory statement that we must “be subject to one another.” v.21. In his examples, Paul transforms the existing roles into something new. The social structure or shell of these institutions is left in place, however, Paul’s teaching radically reimagines and redefines the inner reality of these existing institutions.

In acting in accordance with the Good, the Church exposes the unfruitful works of the darkness of the world. The Church does this, not by scolding those still in the world, but by showing them the Light which is Christ, and thereby being attractive to them.

The summation of Paul’s ethical rules is contained in 4:32-5:2 – Give grace to one another, just as God in Christ gave grace to you and be imitators of God, to walk in love with one another just as Christ sacrificially loved you.

Paul is not merely writing that we should be gracious to or forgive others, but we must be continuously gracing and forgiving each other. This endless gracing of one another is what a Christian community look like.

Christ’s gifts are given to individuals, not for their own spiritual benefit, but to benefit the church itself. Our gifts can only be properly utilized in service to the body. Otherwise, we are like the servant in the parable who received the one talent and buried it in the sand.

Paul exhorts the church to lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called – a unity in the Spirit which is that visible symbol of Christ’s victory over the powers and principalities of this world.

Of all of Paul’s doxologies, this is the only one that mentions the role of the church. The glory (doxa) of God is found not only in Christ Jesus but also found in the Church, the gathered Christian community.

Sanctification is “the process of becoming holy through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit . . . by means of which we grow into the fullness of the redeemed life.”