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Household Teaching of Peter
NT writers adopted a number of conventional literary devices to aid them in the teaching of ethics. One significant device of this sort is referred to as a household code. This term is a translation of the German term "house table," which Martin Luther originally coined and which was taken up to describe the extended passages in the NT that address various members of a household. A number of sections in the NT letters have been classified in this way,1 and related teaching occurs in the writings of the late first and second century apostolic fathers.2
The Apostle Peter
Calls in 1 Peter 2:13-17 for submission to the government authorities. This would include a general attitude of respect toward those in authority,3 which would be demonstrated in the specific acts of paying taxes4 and offering prayers in behalf of civil leaders.5 The rationale is that the civil government has been ordained by God and that such behavior will disprove the false accusations of outsiders who have slandered Christian households as being disloyal to the city state. Apparently this kind of accusation was a current problem; the implication from the letter is that even exemplary behavior in this regard might not stop the abuse from unbelievers.2
1Colossians 3:18-4:1; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 5:1-2; 6:1-2; Titus 2:1-3:8; 1 Peter 2:13-3:7 2"Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Development" editors Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids. 3cf. Titus 3:1; Romans 13:1-4 4cf. Romans 13:6-7
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