Deciphering Complex New Testament Texts about Women Part Five: Colossians 3

Onto the second of the so-called “household codes.” I already wrote about Ephesians 5 at length here if you’re curious; it would be good background reading for this post. Colossians contains many parallels with Ephesians. There are three of these passages in the New Testament, two written by Paul and one written by Peter.

Household codes in the New Testament world were common and expected ways of being for all household members. In a world largely dominated by the male, elite patriarchy, men were