Being Christian in our Relationships
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The Household Codes in Ephesians
Today, our focus is on the most controversial part of Ephesians, namely the Household Codes. The German word for the Code is Haustafel (plural Haustafeln), and tradition says it was coined by Martin Luther. The Household Codes speak of how Christians are to live in the ancient Greco-Roman structures of society; how they are to live in their given stations in life.
What makes the Household Codes controversial is how they are interpreted. Some say the Household Codes support a patriarchal family system where God has ordained men to be the head of the family and hold power, while women, children, and slaves must submit to male-only authority. Others criticize the Household Codes because they reject the egalitarian position of Jesus, surrendering the ethics of Jesus to the cultural and norms of the Greco-Roman society.
What is important to remember that the Household Codes are not a uniquely biblical concept but were prevalent within the culture of the day. As far back as the fourth century BC, Greek philosophers considered household codes to be a microcosm, designed to reflect the hierarchal structure of the society, the gods, and ultimately the universe. Below are a few representative quotations:
Aristotle [Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC]: Regarding the administration of the home, we have seen that there are three parts: one is the rule of a master over the slaves ... another of a father and the third of a husband. A husband and a father rule over the wife and children, both are free, but the rule differs, the rule that his children are real, over his wife a constitutional rule. Because although there may be exceptions to the order of nature, the male is by nature more apt for command than the female, just as the elder and the adult is superior to the younger and immature ...
Philo [Greek Jewish philosopher: contemporary of Jesus and Paul]: The free man rules over the slave in the same way that the man rules over the woman, or the man over the child; Although the parts of the soul are present in all of them, they are present in different degrees. Because the slave has no deliberative faculty at all; the woman has, but has no authority, and the child does, but is immature. Therefore, it must necessarily be with the moral virtues as well; everyone is supposed to participate in them, but only in the manner and degree required by each for the fulfillment of their duty.
Josephus [Jewish priest, scholar, historian: contemporary of Jesus and Paul]: Woman, says the Law, is in all things inferior to man. Let her consequently be submissive, not to humiliate her, but so that she may be directed, because authority has been given by God to man.
As you can see these Greek and Roman philosophers included household codes in their writings, arguing that a man’s authority over his household was critical to the success of a society. Many Roman officials believed the household codes to be such an important part of Pax Romana (the peace of Rome) that they passed laws ensuring their protection.
Just because Ephesians uses the same categories (husband/wife; man/woman; parent/child; slave owner/slave) as Aristotle, Philo, and Josephus does not mean that Ephesians is saying the same thing.
Indeed, the critical points of learning are where the intersections are not entirely similar. I suggest that in Ephesians Christ changes everything. Being in Christ, Christians no longer act out of their former worldview but out of a new and living faith. The new human lives in a new reality (new creation), a new relationship, and participates in a new community, the Church. As Christians we remove the “clothes” of our old self and put on Christ. When we put on the character of Christ, “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
The Household Codes in Ephesians encourage Christians to be Christians and behave like Christians out in the world and within their household. They represent a seismic and revolutionary shift in relationships. Is it any wonder they are controversial!