The household instructions of the ancient Greco-Roman world dictated that the male head of the household had absolute rule over the wife, the children and the slaves and servants. The idea of equality was unheard of in this time period. When we cringe at Paul's call for wives to be subject to their husbands as is fitting to the Lord, wives of his day would have heard a radical revision of the household rules. Instead of everyone being under the rule of the husband, now everyone is under the headship of God. Before only the husband had rights and all else had responsibilities, but now all have both rights and responsibilities. Men, women and slaves were relating as equals in Christian fellowship. Over time this caused a radical shift in the culture as the rest of society saw believers caring for others regardless of their status.
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0.75
1.0
1.25
1.5
1.75
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2.5