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Colossians follows Greco-Roman household codes that instruct wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters. 1 Clement adopts the same tradition, calling the church to revere its rulers, honor elders, guide women, and instruct children.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Colossians 3:18
New Testament
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.
1 Clement 21:6
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Early Christian
5 Let us rather give offense to foolish and senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the arrogance of their words, than to God. 6 Let us fear the Lord Jesus, whose blood was given for us. Let us reverence our rulers; let us honor our elders; let us instruct our young men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our women toward that which is good. 7 let them show forth their lovely disposition of purity; let them prove their sincere affection of gentleness; let them make manifest the moderation of their tongue through their silence; let them show their love, not in factious preferences but without partiality towards all those that fear God, in holiness. Let our children be partakers of the instruction which is in Christ. 8 let them learn how lowliness of mind prevails with God, what power chaste love has with God, how the fear of Him is good and great and saves all those that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness. 9 For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires; whose breath is in us, and when He wills, He shall take it away.
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Notes and References
... Heavenly-mindedness should not only be seen within the church (3.16), but also in everyday life, as displayed by the household code (Haustafel) of 3.18-4.1. There are similarities with other New Testament household codes (e.g. Ephesians 5:22-6:9; 1 Peter 2:18-3:7), early Christian writings (Didache 4:9-11; Barnabas 19:5-7; 1 Clement 21:6-9; Ignatius, To Polycarp 4:1-5:2; Polycarp, To the Philippians 4:2-3) and other examples from contemporary Greek, Roman and Jewish writing (Aristotle, Politics 1.1253b.1-14; Philo, On the Decalogue 165-167; Philo, On the Special Laws 2:224-241; Josephus, Against Apion 2:199-208). The household code addresses six different groups of persons, who form three reciprocal relationships (wives-husbands in 3.18-19; children-parents in 3.20-21; slaves-masters in 3.22-4.1). Within each pair, the weaker party is addressed first. ...
Smith, Ian K.
Heavenly Perspective: A Study of the Apostle Paul’s Response to a Jewish Mystical Motif at Colossae
(p. 201) T&T Clark, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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