Lange Commentary - Colossians 3:18 - 3:19

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Lange Commentary - Colossians 3:18 - 3:19


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

3. Specific exhortations

Col_3:18 to Col_4:1

a) To wives and husbands

(Col_3:18-19)

18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own [omit own] husbands, as it is fit [or as it 19should be] Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter [or embittered] against them.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

Col_3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands.—See on Eph_5:22. Áἰ ãõòáῖêåò is found there also, while instead of ὑðïôÜóóåóèå , ὑðïôáóóüìåíïé must there be supplied from the verse preceding. Ôïῖò ἀíäñÜóéí does not refer to men as a category but the given, proper men [i. e., “husbands,” as in E. V.—R.].

As it should be in the Lord.—The imperfect denotes this pre-supposition: that what was exhorted, was not as yet attended to (as Eph_5:4. Winer’s Gram. p. 254); hence it means: “as it should be,” corresponding with the fellowship which has in Christ its life-sphere. This is applied somewhat differently in Eph_5:22 : “as unto the Lord.” There the dignity of the man is made more prominent, by comparing the husband to Christ and the wife to the Church. It is incorrect to join “in the Lord” to “submit” (Chrysostom and others), or to take ἀíῆêåí as a perfect with a present signification (Huther, Bleek also).

Husbands, love your wives.—See Eph_5:25.—And be not bitter against them.—[Ellicott renders ìὴêéêñáßíåóèå , “be not embittered”—referring it to a state of mind, rather than to specific acts.—R.] This special warning concerns a foul blot in married life, when the husband, as head of the house, not as head of the wife, not in love to her, but ruled by the old man, either shows bitterness in word or deed, or in tone, to the wife, should she be wanting in humility and submission, or have violated or disregarded the household right of the husband; or treats her with indifference, neglect or harshness, without any fault of hers, from the cares and weariness of business, or the changing moods of the flesh, or mere habit. The preposition ðñüò “against,” denotes the direction only; it does not necessarily imply hostility towards the wife; she need only learn from his conduct, that in his false self-love he does not love her as himself, but as one unregenerate might do. Bengel: ðéêñßá odium amori mixtum; multi, quiforis erga omnes humani sunt, tamen domi in uxorem ac liberos, quos videlicet non tement, occulta facile acerbitate utuntur, quæ ubi vincelur, specimen est magnæ mansuetudinis.

[Steiger would account for this special exhortation here and in Eph. by the supposition that the doctrine of the false teachers had developed a dangerous licentiousness. But had there been a polemic reference, the Apostle would have entered into the subject more fully, and not been content with these simple exhortations (Meyer). The social morality of these Asiatic cities was undoubtedly debased, but this was the case throughout the whole Roman empire. From this briefer form of the exhortation, Ellicott infers that our Epistle was written before that to the Ephesians.—R.]

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

Compare notes on Eph_5:22-23.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

Starke :—That there are so few wedlocks which are properly regulated and rightly enjoyed on both sides, arises usually from the fact of the wife’s avoiding submission, or of the husband’s not knowing how to govern properly.—The male sex has usually more fire than the female, so that it can easily happen that a man in his power goes too far and deals too hardly with his wife.

Rieger:—Most of the mistakes of married life are consequences of the sins of youth, especially of those seductive blandishments under which the marriages were formed.—Even that which is polluted, should any one in a time of ignorance be betrayed into a dubious union, may be washed away, cleansed and sanctified.—He who knows and considers his loveless heart, as God’s word discloses to men their natural evil disposition, and by these two words especially: hard-heartedness and anger, will dig deeply and lay well the foundation in his love.—Negligence in affection is itself the first rupture of the marriage tie. But in love we have a fortress that can stand many an assault.

Passavant:—It is exceedingly painful and saddening, to be forced by the reports of missionaries, to see at what a low grade of intelligence and in what a sorrowful condition in general, woman is kept among heathen nations—the Birmese perhaps and the Karens excepted—with what neglect and contempt and abuse she is treated.—Over the grave of many a great man, of many a sleeping saint, often too of one snatched as a brand from the burning, stands in lines, that angels read: he had a pious mother!—The man is the head; a high vocation, a higher power and strength, and a great responsibility! It pre-supposes quiet wisdom, earnest character, rational sway with benevolence—bearing, forbearing, patience, with mildness and friendliness;—and this cannot exist with a firm, faithful, ever equal love, without holy love toward the wife’s soul, before the Lord.—This exhortation of the Apostle pre-supposes also, that there will be many an opportunity of becoming embittered, and that the wife’s nature will be the occasion of it. Yet the husband should not allow himself to be overcome by the weaker vessel; but here there must be humility and bowing of heart before God every day.

Heubner:—Bitterness steals upon us at the very first in the closest unions, as we discover the weaknesses of another, or where there are many hastinesses. The husband can be easily led into this, if the wife does not-gratify his wish.

[Schenkel :—Why Christian morality requires the submission of the wife in the household.—The dangers of bitterness in married life: 1) Its extent; 2) Its causes; 3) Its results.

Schleiermacher:—The regulation of household life. It should be so regulated, that 1) all that is done, is done in the name of Jesus; 2) that thanks are in every way given to God, through the conduct of our household life.—R.]

Footnotes:

Col_3:18.—Some MSS. have inserted, probably from the parallel passage [Eph_5:22], ôïῦò ἰäßïéò , omitted in à . A. B. C. and others.

Col_3:18.—[ Ἀíῆêåí , imperfect, Ellicott renders as above.—R.]

Col_3:19.— à . A. B. and others omit ὑìῶí after ãõíáῖêáò . [Retained by Lachmann, Meyer and others. In any case, “your” is required by our English idiom.—R.]