17.3
Parallels between Ephesians and Colossians (Box 17.1)
Similar topics are treated, often in the same order and sometimes with identical wording.
Topic |
Ephesians |
Colossians |
Redemption and forgiveness |
1:7 |
1:14–20 |
All things in heaven and earth are in Christ |
1:10 |
1:20 |
I have heard of your faith |
1:15 |
1:4 |
I thank God always for you |
1:16 |
1:3 |
Pray that God will give you wisdom |
1:17 |
1:9 |
Riches of a glorious inheritance/mystery |
1:18 |
1:27 |
God made you alive |
2:5 |
2:13 |
Aliens reconciled through Christ’s death |
2:12–13 |
1:21–22 |
Christ has abolished the law |
2:15 |
2:14 |
Paul is suffering for their sake |
3:1 |
1:24 |
Divine commission given to Paul |
3:2 |
1:25 |
Divine mystery made known to Paul |
3:3 |
1:26 |
Paul a servant of the gospel |
3:7 |
1:23, 25 |
Lead a worthy life |
4:1 |
1:10 |
Humility, meekness, patience |
4:2 |
3:12 |
Bear with one another |
4:2 |
3:13 |
Christ is head of the body |
4:15–16 |
2:19 |
Put off old nature, put on new nature |
4:22–32 |
3:5–10, 12 |
Let there be no immorality among you |
5:3–6 |
3:5–9 |
Walk wisely and make the most of your time |
5:15 |
4:5 |
Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs |
5:19 |
3:16 |
Give thanks to God |
5:20 |
3:17 |
Tables of household duties |
5:21–6:9 |
3:18–4:1 |
for wives |
5:22–24 |
3:18 |
for husbands |
5:25–33 |
3:19 |
for children |
6:1–3 |
3:20 |
for fathers |
6:4 |
3:21 |
for slaves |
6:5–8 |
3:22–25 |
for masters |
6:9 |
4:1 |
Paul the prisoner exhorts persistence in prayer |
6:18–20 |
4:2–3 |
Tychicus will inform church about Paul |
6:21 |
4:7 |
Tychicus sent to encourage their hearts |
6:22 |
4:8 |
Indebted to Charles B. Puskas Jr., The Letters of Paul: An Introduction (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1993), 130–31.