First Century Christian Homes

Paul’s Theology

The Redemptive Movement of

Scripture

Canonical Development

Inheritance Laws: Num. 27:1-11; 36:1-13

Refuge for Slaves: Deut. 23: 15-16; Is.

16:3-4

Marriage:Eph. 5:25; 1 Pt. 3:7

Roman Society

Greek Influence

•Deities

•Philosophy

•Stratification of Society

Roman Homes

Slaves, Former Slaves, Urban Workers, Rural Farmers, Laborers

Merchants, Civil Servants, Trades People

Aristocrats

Relationships

•Husband/Wife

•Parent/Child

•Master/Slave

Household Codes

“Haustafel”

Household Codes

Transformed

Colossians 3:18-4:1

Ephesians 5:20-6:9

Slave/MasterColossians 3: 22-4:1

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart, and reverence for the Lord. Whatever, you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Those who do wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Ephesians 6:5-8

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do, whether slave or free.”

“Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in Heaven. Colossians 4:1”

“And Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” Ephesians 6:9Mas

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother- which is the first commandment with a promise- so that it may go well with you and that your may enjoy long life on the earth.Ephesians 6:1-3

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Colossians 3:21

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Wives/HusbandsColossians 3:18; Ephesians 5:22-24

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.”

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything.”

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Colossians 3:19

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, people never hated their own bodies, but they feed and care for them, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

Bringing all things under the lordship of Christ…

“We live within different structures and recognize a need for change from first-century structures as a result of our continuing evaluation of society in the light of the gospel. With changes in structures and relationships, their naturally come changes in the kinds of behavior required of Christians in them.”

“The gospel leads us out of patriarchy into a different kind of relationship that mirrors more adequately the mutual love and respect that is God’s purpose for His redeemed people.”

I. Howard Marshall

How far does your redemption extend?

Questions to ask:

What is the Spirit doing in our day?

How does that affect our interpretation of His Word?

If He is doing something different than our interpretation of the text allows, will we recognize Him at work?

Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”