Texts in Conversation
The Didache and Barnabas share a household code connected to the Two Ways tradition. Each tells parents not to withhold discipline from sons and daughters, and warns masters not to treat slaves harshly so they continue to fear God.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Didache 4:9
Early Christian
8 Don't turn away those in need, but share everything with your family, and don't claim it as your own. If you share in what is eternal, how much more should you share in what is perishable? 9 Don't withhold correction from your son or daughter, but teach them to respect God from a young age. 10 Don't treat your slaves harshly out of anger, especially if they believe in the same God, lest they lose fear of the God who oversees you both. God doesn't show favoritism, but calls those prepared by the Spirit. 11 If you are a slave, obey your master as you would God's representative, with respect and fear.
Barnabas 19:5
Epistle of Barnabas
Early Christian
4 ‘You shall not commit fornication; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not corrupt young people. The word of God shall not come from you where there is any impurity. You shall not show partiality when reproving someone for a transgression. You shall be gentle; you shall be quiet; you shall be in awe of the words you have heard. You shall not hold a grudge against your brother.’ 5 ‘You shall not waver about whether something will be or not. You shall not use the Lord’s name carelessly. You shall love your neighbor more than your own life. You shall not kill a child by abortion, nor again kill it once it is born. You shall not withhold your hand from your son or daughter, but from childhood you shall teach them the fear of God.’ 6 ‘You shall not be found craving your neighbor’s goods; you shall not be found greedy for profit. Nor shall you associate your soul with the high-minded but shall walk with the humble and just. Whatever happens to you, accept it as good, knowing that nothing happens without God. You shall not be double-minded or speak with a double tongue.’ 7 ‘You shall be subject to your masters as a symbol of God, in shame and fear. You shall not order your bondservant or servant harshly if they set their hope on the same God, so that they do not stop fearing the God who is over both of you; for He did not come to call anyone with partiality but those whom the Spirit has prepared.’
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Notes and References
... there are similar household codes in other early Christian writings (Ephesians 5“22-6“9; 1 Peter 2“18-3“7; with less close parallels in 1 Timothy 2“8-15; 6“1-2; Titus 2“1-10; Didache 4“9-11; Barnabas 19“5-7; 1 Clement 21“6-9; Ignatius, Polycarp 4“1-5“2; Polycarp, Philippians 4“2-3). This suggests that the Colossian code may have been derived from earlier traditional material, whether in form or content or both ... The model, insofar as there is one, was that of oikonomia, “household management” ... That similar concerns were active in diaspora Judaism is evident, for example, from pseudo-Phocylides 175-227, Philo, On the Decalogue 165-67; On the Special Laws 2.224-41, and the disputed extract Hypothetica 7.14 (preserved in Eusebius, Praeparatio Evangelica 8.7.14); and Josephus, Against Apion 2.199-208 ...
Dunn, James D. G.
The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon: A Commentary on the Greek Text
(pp. 242-243) Paternoster, 1996
* 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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