Tag: paterfamilias
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Household: Household Code in Ephesians (Part 4)
Greco-Roman household codes were instructions to the paterfamilias on ruling over his household for the sake of the social order. They typically included instruction about wives, slaves, and sometimes children. The biblical writers tended to follow this pattern, as we have seen in 1 Peter and Titus. Ephesians does the same. We have just examined…
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Household: Household Code in Ephesians (Part 3)
I have made the case that the controlling metaphor for the husband and wife relationship in the Ephesians' household code is the metaphor of head and body as visually identifiable parts of an organically indivisible unit. It is a masterful play on the idea that "the two become one flesh." Examining these passages, we see…
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Household: Context for the Post-Resurrection Household of God
We are finished with Jesus' use of fictive family. In the coming posts, I will focus on the post-Resurrection Church. Before going there, I think it might be helpful to reset the stage. We have looked at the nature of the Greco-Roman household. Patriarchy, patronage, honor, and status were driving cultural influences. The Roman Empire…
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Household: Jesus’ Household Code (Part 1)
What was Jesus' household code? The gospel of Matthew contains five discourses. The fourth discourse (chapter 18) concerns life in the Kingdom. Carolyn Osiek and David Balch (drawing on the work of Warren Carter) see the collection of stories immediately following the fourth discourse (chapters 19-20) functioning as a household code. Here is a breakdown…
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Household: The “Household Code”
The ancient Greeks saw the household as the primary institution through which society kept order. To promote effective household management, Greek sages would advise the paterfamilias on household management. These discourses came to be known as the "household codes" or "household tables" (and sometimes the German haustafel.) Aristotle's household instructions (fourth century B.C.E.) in Book…