Visit the
Arizona Image Gallery

Discussion Questions:

1. Who does Paul want us to imitate? Why? What does it mean to imitate someone? (Greek word is mimetes {mim-ay-tace'})

2. How does verse 2 relate to 1 Peter 1:18-21? Who is the "us" in the verse?

3. "Greater love hath no man than this..." Finish that verse from John.

4. What does it mean that there shouldn't even be a hint of these selfish sins? Why?

5. What kind of speech should come out of our mouths?

6. The people who do live like what is described in verses 4-6 says what about them?

7. What should Christians do with regards to such people? Why? (vv. 7-14) And what about fellow Christians?

8. How should we be living in the world? How does that correspond to how you are living?

9. What does Paul want us to do in verse 17?

10. What is the negative command and the positive command from verse 18-21?

11. What do you think it means to "submit?"

12. Why should Christians be submissive?

PART 2:

1. Verse 21 is the beginning to a section about submission. Why do you think that Paul wrote such a section to the church?

2. "Submit" is the Greek word hupotasso which is a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden." What are the positive and negative understandings of such a concept in today's society?

3. What does the phrase "as to the Lord" mean in verse 22?

4. Are verses 22 and 23 "societal" or "cultural" and no longer relevant to our enlightened and egalitarian world? Why or why not?

5. Thinking back to the definition given in question 2, does submission imply in any way a inferiority of character or worth?

6. What is the husband's responsibility? (Note: this is an imperative, and the word is agapao). What kind of a love is this?

7. With regards to Christ and the church, who does the preparing and presenting?

8. Husband ought to love their wives as their own bodies. Why? What is the significance of this?

9. How is the marriage relationship depicted in verse 31? What should be a married couple's model for their relationship? Does this relate in any way to the first 4 and half chapters of Ephesians?

10. The word "respect" in verse 33 is phobeo? What do you think that might mean? See 1 Peter 2:17 and Ephesians 6:5.