Why has the biblical passage, Eph. 5:21-33 traditionally been used to reiterate the
subordinate position of wives and women in general? This book attempts to analyze the
Jewish, Greco-Roman and Christian elements of household relationships in the letter to the
Ephesians as a site for postcolonial feminist theological formulations. While there are
negotiations with the colonial and patriarchal environment, one may also find how the
author struggles to retain the egalitarianism of early Christian church. The imagery of
Christ-church union and mutuality in "one flesh" marital relationship provide
pointers to re-read the text towards de-colonizing and de-patriarchalizing the Ephesian
household codes.
Contents
Foreword
Preface
1. Ephesian Household Codes and Empire
2. Household Codes in New Testament : Jewish or Greco-Roman or Christian?
3. Wife-Husband Relationships : Intersecting Judaism, Greco-Roman Religions and
Christianity
4. Ephesians, Empire, and Egalitarianism
5. The Mutual "One-Flesh" Relationship : A Third Space of Enunciation
6. Conclusion
Bibliography
Rev. Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha is Professor of New Testament at the
Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai. She is also the Dean of Women's Studies. She has
co-edited two books, `Teaching All Nations: Interrogating the Matthean Great Commission'
and `Evangelical Postcolonial Conversations: Global Awakenings in Theology and Praxis.'
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