Knowra Household code Household code An ancient literary form that gives instructions for relationships and conduct within a household, often addressing husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, and enslaved people.
Greco-Roman household : A family and economic unit in the ancient Greek and Roman world, organized under a male household head. Its hierarchy of spouses, children, and enslaved people supplies the social structure these instructions address.
Aristotle's Politics : A philosophical work examining the household, the city, citizenship, and political rule. Its discussion of household relations offers a prominent Greek comparison for later codes.
Xenophon's Oeconomicus : A Socratic dialogue by Xenophon about household management, marriage, and estate administration. It is an influential Greek work on domestic roles and household management.
Reciprocal household code : A modern scholarly term for ancient household instructions that address both subordinate and authoritative household members. This label highlights the distinctive practice of directing duties to both sides of household relationships.
Paterfamilias : The male head of a Roman household, holding legal authority over its members in Roman law. Roman household authority helps explain the asymmetry in ancient instructions about family conduct.
Colossians 3:18–4:1 : A passage in Colossians instructing wives, husbands, children, fathers, enslaved people, and masters. This passage is a compact Christian example of household instructions.
Hesiod's Works and Days : An archaic Greek poem offering practical and moral advice about farming, work, and justice. Its practical exhortations belong to the advice tradition that preceded household codes.
Greco-Roman moral philosophy : Ancient Greek and Roman reflection on virtue, conduct, nature, and the good life. Comparisons with this tradition help distinguish Christian codes from shared cultural conventions.
Patriarchy : A social system in which men hold disproportionate authority in families and public institutions. Household codes often frame domestic order through male authority.
Ephesians 5:21–6:9 : A passage in Ephesians addressing mutual submission and conduct among spouses, children, parents, enslaved people, and masters. Its extended household instructions are among the best-known New Testament examples.
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