Colossians 3:18 demands of wives that they be subject to their husbands. Interestingly, this is a passage that we mentioned briefly in chapter 31 in the context of slavery, because the text continues, “[19] Husbands, love your wives … [20] Children, obey your parents … [21] Fathers, do not provoke your children … [22] Slaves, obey your human masters.” (The word “human” here, commonly translated “earthly,” is probably intended to make it clear that the Greek word for “master,” kurios, which also means “lord,” doesn’t refer to “the Lord” in this case.)
