Colossians 3:11

where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

'WHERE THERE CANNOT BE' -'All racial bigotry..snobbery is condemned here.' (Hendriksen p. 151)

Points to Note:

1. The new man isn't prejudiced. There is nothing "Christian" about White Supremacy or the elevation of any race over another.

2. The Church, the body composed of people with the new self, is. place where people from all backgrounds, all cultures, all races, can serve Christ and find peace among themselves (Ephesians 2:14; Isaiah 2:2).

3. The new man refuses to think like the rest of men. He or she struggles to have God's perspective, in which all are viewed as equal (Romans 2:11). In which skin color, culture, social status, etc...isn't an issue. An outlook which says, if one serves Christ faithfully, then nothing else matters.

'BARBARIAN' -usually anyone who didn't speak the Greek language.

'SCYTHIAN' -4658. Skuthes skoo'-thace; probably of foreign origin;. Scythene or Scythian, i.e. (by implication). savage: -Scythian.

-'Was simply the climax of barbarity' (Robertson p. 503). 'a savage, or even. Bushman. The Scythian races, represented by the modern Tartar or Cossack races of Asia and Eastern Europe, were regarded as at the bottom of the scale...Herodotus calls them cannibals.' (Eadie p. 231)

Barclay notes, 'The Greek was the aristocrat of the ancient world and he knew it. The Jew looked down on every other nation..and the other nations were fit only to be fuel for the fires of hell. The Scythian was notorious as the lowest of the barbarians..little short of being. wild beast...The slave was not even classified in ancient law as. human being; he was merely. living tool, with no rights of his own...There could be no fellowship in the ancient world between. slave and. free man..' (p. 155)

Points to Note:

1. Let us carefully note what Paul is saying. Christianity didn't destroy prejudice, for it still exists. And we aren't to pretend that no distinctions in culture, social strata, etc..exist-for they do. And either is the Christian to be blind to the short-comings of many cultures.

2. Paul is talking about what happens in Christ. Anyone can become. Christian. All cultures, races, social levels, and people from previous religious backgrounds can get along in Christ. The Scythian probably had some disgusting habits (Herodotus says of them, 'They drank the blood of the first enemy killed in battle, and made napkins of the scalps, and drinking bowls of the skulls of the slain. They had the most filthy habits and never washed with water.' (Hendriksen p. 154) --but. am to preach the gospel to him also, and if he shows interest in the truth, and becomes. Christian-he is my brother!

3. Paul is also saying, that there is no cultural, social, racial, national or economic disadvantage that can keep one from becoming. Christian. No person exists who already has three strikes against them-before they become. Christian.

4. What. lesson to our own time, when we are constantly hearing the excuse that one cannot serve God because of "how their parents raised them (do you think Scythians were raised in well-mannered homes?), because of their past, or their former environment. God doesn't buy the excuse that environment and upbringing constitute an unsurmountable obstacle that just can't be overcome.

5. Also note that Paul isn't saying that no social distinctions exist. We still must live in the world,. world in which authorities need to be respected (Romans 13:1 ff); in which masters are still masters and slaves are still slaves (Colossians 3:22; Colossians 4:1). But in our vertical relationship with God, all men and women are equal (Galatians 3:28), i.e. all have equal access, all faithful Christians stand before God on level ground.

6. These verses also make us feel ashamed. For if such huge distinctions are to be erased in Christ, how inexcusable we find ourselves today for letting lesser things alienate us from our brethren!

7. If God expects all races, cultures, social classes to find unity in His Son, then: (a) The Bible can be equally understood by people from all backgrounds. We cannot hide behind the excuse that "culture or preconceived ideas" are what prevent us from arriving at the same interpretation of God's truth. (b) God has ONE TRUTH FOR ALL CULTURES! (c) God has one level of morality for all cultures. (d) The one church is big enough for all cultures. Churches based on "culture" or an. specific ethnic group are wrong. (e). church that isn't big enough for all cultures, isn't the true church.

Eadie makes. good comment when he says, 'Now, the meaning of the apostle is not that. man loses nationality on becoming. Christian..The rude manners of the Scythian might be refined by his faith, but he did not lose his peculiarity of colour or configuration...But the meaning of the apostle is---First, That such distinctions do not prevent the on-putting of the new man. In other words, such differences of nation, religion, culture, and social position, do not interfere with the adaptation, the offer, or the reception and the results of the gospel...Secondly,...prior and external distinctions, do not modify the possession of spiritual privilege and blessing....the barbarian is not degraded to. lower seat, nor is any outer court appropriated for the Scythian' (pp. 232-233)

None of these prior conditions are inherent hindrances to spiritual growth, purity and doing good works. Or even obeying the gospel in the first place.

'BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL' -'Christ is all that matters' (Phi); 'whether. person has Christ is what matters, and He is equally available to all' (Tay)

Points to Note:

1. 'Is all'-He is the center, the focus..'our common center, our standard of reference, and fount of honor, the sum of all we acknowledge and desire.' (P.P. Comm. p. 151) 'Christ is everything to all of them having the new man.' (Eadie p. 232)

2. 'And in all'-Influencing through His revelation all, regardless of background, who are putting on the new man. Every Christian, has acknowledged Christ as His master--the slave, just as much as his earthly master, the Scythian, just as much as the well-cultured Greek. The moral Jew, just as much as the pagan who had lived in the gutter. Background can't prevent. man or woman from living for Christ--if they so desire (Galatians 2:20).

3. O'Brien notes, 'contrast the centrality of Christ with the divisions that separate people in the world.' (p. 193) Christianity can never be blamed for the divisions found in the world. Unity can only be found in Christ, all other claims of peace are only temporary and false.

SPECIFIC QUALITIES TO PUT ON: