Contents -- Introduction 1 -- Chapter One: Survey and Assessment of Scholarship 9 -- Introduction 9 -- Form-Critical HT Analysis 11 -- Research of HT Origins: Early Theories 14 -- Catechism Theories: The HT as Christian Lehrstück 14 -- Dibelius-Weidinger: Adoption of the Hellenistic Ethic 17 -- Ernst Lohmeyer: Jewish Source Theory 20 -- K.H. Rengstorf: The HT and the Social Context OLKOC 22 -- David Schroeder: The Debate Concerning HT Form 26 -- James Crouch: From HT Form to Sociological Concerns 32 -- Economic Theories and the HT Form 38 -- David Balch: Attention to Broad Literary Context 38 -- Klaus Thraede: Economic Theory in Colossians, Ephesians and 1 Peter 41 -- Dieter Lührmann: An Integrated Sociological Approach 44 -- Beyond Economic Theory 48 -- Franz Laub: A Radically Sociological Approach 48 -- Klaus Berger: Gnomic Tradition and HT Origins 52 -- Hermann von Lips: The HT as Christian Parenetic Topos 55 -- Conclusion 58 -- Chapter Two: The Colossian Haustafel in Theological Context 61 -- Introduction 61 -- The Christ of Colossians: Universal Dominion 63 -- Christ's Dominion in the Believer: The Divine-Human Axis 65 -- Implications of the Divine-Human Axis 69 -- Colossians 3:4-4:6: Life in Light of the Coming Lord 74 -- The Colossian Haustafel: Observations 76 -- The Theme of Lordship and the HT 76 -- The Aural-Communal Aspect of the HT Commands 79 -- Addressing the Subordinate Member 81 -- Reciprocity and Responsibility 84 -- Analysis of the Expanded Instruction: Slave and Master 85 -- The Slave in Christ's Service: Analysis of Col. 3:22-24 90 -- Justice before Christ: The Transition 98 -- Earthly Masters and The Lord in Heaven 101 -- Conclusion 103 -- Chapter Three: The Relationship of Colossians and Ephesians 107 -- Introduction 107 -- The Current Discussion of Dependence 109 -- John Muddiman 110 -- Ernest Best 118 -- HT Comparison 125.

Exegesis: The Immediate HT Context 130 -- The Ephesian HT: Transformation 137 -- The First Relational Pair: Husband and Wife 141 -- The Second Relational Pair: Parents and Children 149 -- The Third Relational Pair: Masters and Slaves 151 -- Conclusion 154 -- Chapter Four: The Ephesian Haustafel in Theological Context 157 -- Introduction 157 -- The Ephesian Redaction 158 -- Theological Features of the Ephesian Redaction 165 -- Universal Ecclesiastical Perspective 166 -- The OT and the Ephesian Redaction 171 -- Christ and the Mediation of Love 176 -- Christ as the Exemplar of Love 179 -- Summary 182 -- The Theology of the Ephesian HT Admonitions 182 -- The Parent-Child Relationship 183 -- The Master-Slave Relationship 186 -- The Husband-Wife Relationship 188 -- Conclusion 200 -- Chapter Five: A Comparison of Household Relations 203 -- Introduction 203 -- Ancient Treatments: Plato 205 -- Plato and Household Regulation 207 -- Plato and the NT Haustafeln 210 -- Conclusion 214 -- Ancient Treatments: Aristotle 215 -- Ontology and the Stratification of Relations 216 -- The Household Relations 217 -- Conclusion 225 -- Ancient Treatments: Pseudo-Aristotle 226 -- The Household in Psuedo-Aristotle 226 -- Conclusion 233 -- Contemporary Treatments: Philo 233 -- Philo and Household Relations 234 -- The Value of the Slave 240 -- The Sabbath Rest 242 -- Conclusion 244 -- Contemporary Treatments: Musonius Rufus 245 -- Household Relations 245 -- Marriage as Divinely Appointed Union 249 -- Conclusion 251 -- Contemporary Treatments: Plutarch 252 -- Husbands and Wives 253 -- Conclusion 259 -- Conclusion 260 -- Conclusion 263 -- Bibliography 267.