A continuation of these rules of conduct as they apply to children and parents (6:1–4) and slaves and masters (6:5–9) appears in 6:1–9. As in the section on the husband-wife relationship, there is the specific emphasis that the ethical life of the Christian is both grounded in and directed toward the Lord.

The superscription of submission “out of reverence for Christ” in 5:21 serves the entire code. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (5:22); children are to obey their parents “in the Lord”; fathers are to raise their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (6:4); slaves are to obey their earthly masters “just as you would obey Christ” (6:5) as his slaves (6:6). Masters, likewise, are to let Christ, the Master in heaven, govern their attitude and conduct to…