The parent-child relationship in the Colossians house code. A re reading from the social sciences

Abstract

Unlike the pagan codes underlying the Greco-Roman and Hellenistic societies, the author of the Letter to the Colossians defines the father-son relationship from the viewpoint of the believer. The household code set out in Col 3, 20-21 contemplates both sides of each relationship, showing that children's obedience to their parents is as important as parents' affection towards their children. Our purpose in this article will be to find out how the dyad children⇿parents was perceived, the recommendations addressed by the author of the letter to the Christians from Colossae, and the exhortations directed at them. Aiming to provide a more thorough understanding of the message, we will suggest a new reading, taking the household, its structure and social value, as a starting point.