The Household Codes in Ephesians and Colossians: A Gospel-Centered Framework
The epistles of Paul to the Ephesians and Colossians contain sections commonly referred to as "household codes" (Haustafeln). These passages, found in Ephesians 5:21-6:9 and Colossians 3:18-4:1, address the various relationships within the Roman household: husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants. While such codes were prevalent in Greco-Roman society, Paul's rendition is profoundly distinct, transforming conventional societal norms through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Far from merely endorsing existing structures, these codes infuse them with radical Christian principles, demanding love, respect, and service rooted in one's relationship with the Lord.
The Foundation: Mutual Submission in Christ
Crucially, the household codes in Ephesians are prefaced by a foundational principle often overlooked but vital for proper interpretation: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21). This overarching command for mutual submission sets the tone for all subsequent instructions. It signifies that Christian relationships are not about asserting power or dominance, but about humility, service, and deference to one another out of reverence for Christ. This principle is counter-cultural, challenging the hierarchical and often oppressive nature of ancient households. Within this framework of mutual submission, Paul then addresses specific roles.
Husbands and Wives: Love, Submission, and Reverence
Paul's instructions to husbands and wives are perhaps the most profound and revolutionary.
To Wives:Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
And in Colossians:
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
The call for wives to submit is often misunderstood as a mandate for subservience. However, within the context of Ephesians 5:21, it is a willing ordering of relationship, mirroring the church's submission to Christ. This submission is "as unto the Lord," meaning it is an act of obedience and reverence to God Himself, not merely to a human authority. It is a recognition of the husband's appointed headship, which, as we shall see, is defined by self-sacrificial love.
To Husbands:Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
This command to husbands is revolutionary. Paul does not command husbands to dominate, but to love their wives with a love patterned after Christ's sacrificial love for the church. This love is:
- Self-sacrificial: "gave himself for it." It's a love that puts the wife's spiritual and physical well-being above one's own.
- Sanctifying: Aiming to help the wife grow in holiness and purity.
- Nourishing and Cherishing: Providing for and caring for her as one's own body.
The husband's headship, therefore, is not a license for tyranny, but a divine calling to servant leadership, mirroring Christ's own leadership. The wife's submission is a response to this Christ-like love, culminating in her reverence for her husband (Ephesians 5:33). This dynamic creates a reciprocal relationship of love and respect, rooted in the Gospel.
Parents and Children: Obedience and Nurture
Paul then turns his attention to the relationship between parents and children.
To Children:Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And in Colossians:
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Children are commanded to obey their parents "in the Lord," meaning their obedience is an act of faith and a demonstration of their relationship with Christ. This is linked to the fifth commandment, emphasizing the divine institution of parental authority and the blessings associated with honoring it.
To Fathers (Parents):And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
And in Colossians:
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Fathers (representing parents generally) are given a crucial admonition: do not exasperate or provoke their children. This negative command is balanced by a positive one: to bring them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." This implies a parenting style characterized by:
- Patience and understanding: Avoiding harshness or unreasonable demands that would discourage a child.
- Spiritual instruction: Teaching them the ways of the Lord.
- Discipline and guidance: Providing loving correction and moral training.
Christian parenting is thus a sacred trust, aimed at shaping children into faithful disciples of Christ.
Masters and Servants: Service and Impartiality
The final relationship addressed is that of masters and servants (often translated as bondservants or slaves in the Roman context). This is perhaps the most radical application of the Gospel principles.
To Servants:Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
And in Colossians:
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Servants are commanded to obey their earthly masters as if serving Christ Himself. This elevates their mundane tasks to a spiritual act of worship. Their motivation is not fear of man, but a desire to please God, knowing that their true reward comes from the Lord, who is impartial.
To Masters:And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
And in Colossians:
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
This instruction is truly revolutionary. Masters are told to treat their servants with justice and equity, and to "forbear threatening." The radical implication is that masters are accountable to a higher authority—their heavenly Master. The phrase "neither is there respect of persons with him" (Ephesians 6:9) fundamentally undermines the very basis of slavery and social hierarchy. In God's eyes, master and servant are equally His children, equally accountable, and equally recipients of His grace. While Paul does not explicitly abolish slavery, his instructions lay the groundwork for its eventual demise by transforming the relationship from within, based on the equality of all believers in Christ.
Conclusion: The Transformative Power of the Gospel
The household codes in Ephesians and Colossians are not mere endorsements of existing social structures, but radical reinterpretations of them through the lens of the Gospel. They demonstrate that the transformative power of Christ extends to every facet of life, including the most intimate and foundational relationships within the home. The key principles are:
- Christ-centeredness: All instructions are "in the Lord," "as unto the Lord," or "fearing God." Our relationships are first and foremost an expression of our devotion to Christ.
- Mutual Submission: The overarching principle of Ephesians 5:21 governs all roles, emphasizing humility and service over dominance.
- Sacrificial Love: Husbands are called to love as Christ loved the church, setting the standard for all leadership within the home.
- Divine Accountability: Every member of the household, regardless of social status, is ultimately accountable to God, who shows no partiality.
These codes call believers to live out their faith within their homes in a way that truly reflects the new creation in Christ. They provide a blueprint for households that are not merely functional, but spiritually vibrant, where every member strives to honor God and serve one another, anticipating the perfect harmony of God's eternal kingdom.