SUMMARY
The relationship of Israel to the Gentiles has been transformed in Christ so that both groups are members of the householdA household is a living unit comprised of all the persons who live in one house. A household would embrace all the members of a family, including servants and slaves. In the book of Acts, stories are told of various persons and their households, like... More of God. Relationships between those sharing human households are also affected by Christ.
ANALYSIS
The central social unit in Greco-Roman society was the household, which included immediate and extended family members as well as slaves, freed men and women, and other business associates of the male head of household, also known as the pater familias. Early Christian writing sometimes addressed relationships within this social unit. See, for example, 1 PeterThe disciple who denied Jesus during his trial but later became a leader in proclaiming Jesus More 2:18–3:7 and Colossians 3:18-4:4, as well as this text from Ephesians.
At one point in Paul’s letters, he implies that relationships within the household are transformed as a result of the new life offered to believers in Christ JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity More (see Galatians 3:27-28). Elsewhere, however, the apostleDerived from a Greek word meaning "one who is sent," an apostle is a person who embraces and advocates another person's idea or beliefs. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus called twelve apostles to follow and serve him. Paul became an apostle of Jesus... More and others writing in his name leave intact much of the hierarchy in place in this element of their society. This section on relationships within the household begins with an exhortation meant to encompass all the relationships discussed in Ephesians 5:21-6:9, “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” While equality between members of the household is nowhere implied in the household codeHousehold codes are rules for Christian households; they tell how Christian families should treat one another. Such guidelines for wives, husbands, children, and slaves are given in Colossians 3. Discussion of relations within a household also occurs in Ephesians 5, Titus 2, and 1 Peter 2. More, the call to mutual submission modifies all relationships of unequal parties within the household.
