Category: Series: Household of God
-
Household: Household Code in 1 Peter (Part 1)
We begin our review of the household codes with 1 Peter. There is debate about who wrote 1 Peter. Some scholars think the Greek is a little too good to be written by a Palestinian fisherman. However, the author writes in 5:12, “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I…
-
Household: New Testament Household Codes
The use of fictive family in the New Testament relates to five themes: identity, unity, mission, inheritance, and affection. If fully embraced by the community, these themes would have grounded the community identity in God and unified them in mission as they demonstrated new creation values toward each other, anticipating the consummation of the new…
-
Household: Reviewing the Big Picture (Part 1)
We have now taken a whirlwind tour of fictive family and fictive household metaphors found in the Bible. This wide-ranging discussion can get us lost in the proverbial trees to the point we lose sight of the forest. So before we go any further, let us step back with a wide-angle lens and recapture the…
-
Household: Fictive Family in 1 Peter
We saw a reference to the Church as God’s living temple in Ephesians 2:21. The first ten verses of 1 Peter elaborate a little more on this imagery. 1 Peter 2:1-10 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk,…
-
Household: Fictive Family in Ephesians
The precise phrase "household of God" is used only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 2:19 (oikeioi tou Theou). In 1 Timothy 3:15, we find oikoo Theou rendered "household of God" in some translations, but more accurately, it is "house of God." Paul also writes "household of faith" (oikeious tees pisteoos) in Galatians 6:10.…
-
Household: Fictive Family in Hebrews
The author of Hebrews is not known. We know the book existed before about 95 C.E. because that was the approximate year 1 Clement was written, and it uses Hebrews several times. It was likely written after 60 C.E., but it is unclear who the target audience was. The last half of Chapter 2 lays…
-
Household: Fictive Family in 1 John
Tradition suggests the Apostle John was the author of 1 John. There is considerable similarity in the language and thought patterns used in the Gospel of John and 1 John. There is now considerable doubt about authorship, although many scholars think the same author likely wrote both works during a time of great trial and…