Setting
In this passage, Paul continues with his exhortations on Christian living before ending the epistle. The many names at the end of this epistle reveal that the message is all about people and the salvation of their souls. The Christian writers cared very much for individual members and individual churches even as they fought for the truth. This is so because the gospel is about the salvation of people.
Key Verse
(4:18)
Did You Know...?
1. Seasoned with salt (4:6): Salt was used for preserving foods and for making them pleasant to the taste.
Outline
General Analysis
Segment Analysis
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3:18-4:1
1. What are the commands to each of these groups? a. Wives b. Husbands c. Children d. Fathers e. Bondservants f. Masters
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2. What is an important underlying principle in these commands?
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4:2-6
3a. What does it mean to be “vigilant in prayer” (4:2; cf. Mt 26:41; Lk 12:35-40, 21:34-36;
1Thess 5:1-8; 1Pet 4:7)? -
3b. What should be the content and attitude of our prayer?
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4a. Who are those who are outside (4:5;
1Thess 4:12)? -
4b. What is our most important responsibility towards those who are outside?
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4c. How should we behave towards those who are outside (4:5, 6)?
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4:7-18
5. Here is a list of all the names mentioned in this section. Look up references in the NT on these characters and record briefly what the Bible says about each of them. a. Tychicus (4:7-8; cf. Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21;
2Tim 4:12; Tit 3:12) b. Onesimus (4:9; cf. Phm 10-20) c. Aristarchus (4:10; cf. Acts 19:29, 20:4, 27:2; Phm 1:24) d. Mark (4:10; cf. Acts 12:12, 12:25, 13:13, 15:36-40; 2Tim 4:11) e. Barnabas (4:10; cf. Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-27, 11:24-30, 13:1ff; Gal 2:1- 13). f. Jesus who is called Justus (4:11) g. Epaphras (4:12); See lesson 26, question 4. h. Luke (4:14; cf. Lk 1:3; Acts 1:1; 2Tim 4:11; Phm 24) i. Demas (4:14; cf. Phm 24; 2Tim 4:10) j. Nymphas (4:15) k. Archippus (4:17; Phm 2)