The air that the Ephesians breathed was one steeped in hierarchy and patriarchy. As a male Roman citizen who owned land and an estate, you were a patriarch. And the society and culture around you, where more than 50% of people were slaves, served for so that you would gain benefit. As a patriarch, you were part of a very small minority of the total population. Nevertheless, no matter what, you as a patriarch would come out on top. 

 

As a patriarch there would be certain household relationships as well: husband/wife, father/child, and master/slave. He again enjoyed the place of authority and power in each of those relationships. But what happens when that patriarch became a follower of Jesus? (Eg: Book of Philemon). Were they to live as their society and culture expected? Paul subtly subverts the expected societal behaviours in a typical household in Eph. 5:22-6:9, as husbands/fathers/masters were called to live in a new manner toward their “subordinates”. As we see in Jesus, we don’t serve and live out of power and authority, but out of love and a heart of humility.