Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ...

We are beginning a new mini-series, Relationship Goals, this week! We'll be starting off this section by looking at what it means to submit.

This portion of Scripture is called "Household Codes." There are similar portions found in Colossians and 1 Peter, and these give instructions to wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters. While these relationships were frequently addressed within Greek and Jewish writings in somewhat stereotypical fashion, no source for the Christian household codes has been discovered, nor do Greek or Jewish writers use the same language as the New Testament writers. The specific wording of this material emerged within the church.

Christians had to treat these subjects, at least in part because we have the writings of the New Testament addressing these issues, because they were accused of destroying society with their focus on freedom, love, and following the ways of Jesus. Non-Christians needed to know that this was not the case, and Christians needed to be taught the relevance of their faith for their primary social relationships. Unlike other household codes, Christian ones focused not only on the woman, children, and slaves, but also on the responsibilities and callings of the more powerful persons (men, parents, and masters).

It's all really interesting stuff, and there's so much that we're going to say!