Rules for Christian Households

Colossians 3

¹⁸ _u Wives, submit to your husbands, as _v is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and _w do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents _x in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Slaves, ₁ obey _x in everything those who are your earthly masters, ₂ not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ _y Whatever you do, work heartily, _z as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord _a you will receive the inheritance as your reward. _b You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 4

¹ Masters, treat your slaves ₃ justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

1. Cross References
   Colossians 3:18 - 4:1
   Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
   Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9
   Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
   
2. Cross References
   Ephesians 5:4
   Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
   Philemon 1:8
   Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required.
   
3. Cross References
   Ephesians 4:31
   Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
   
4. Cross References
   Ephesians 5:24
   Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
   Titus 2:9
   Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative.
   
5. Cross References
   Colossians 3:20
   Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
   
6. Cross References
   Colossians 3:17
   And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
   
7. Cross References
   Philemon 1:16
   No longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother - especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
   
8. Cross References
   Ephesians 6:8
   Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
   
9. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 7:22
   For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
   

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.