Paul is nearing the end of his written correspondence to the churches in and around Ephesus. In an effort to provide clear, practical directions on how to live out their new faith he has provided encouragement to "live wisely" and within that he outlines how to treat others. He does this in the context of marriage (episode 16) and now parents/children and masters/slaves. To understand his message, we must put ourselves in the context of the Greco-Roman family life. Our cultural experience is an important factor when we approach the Bible and specifically a piece of mail written to believers living 2,000 years ago. Despite time and cultural changes, there is still much here for us. After all, the main message is all about treating others how God has treated us - that is the encouragement and the challenge!
The Bible is for everyone.
