The Household Chart110 of Some Bible Passages
for all kinds of holy orders111 and walks of life, through which they may be admonished, as through lessons particularly pertinent to their office and duty.
For Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers
“A bishop is to be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, virtuous, moderate, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not vicious, not involved in dishonorable work,112 but gentle, not quarrelsome, not stingy, one who manages his own household well, who has obedient and honest children, not a recent convert, who holds to the Word that is certain and can teach, so that he may be strong enough to admonish with saving teaching and to refute those who contradict it.”113 From 1 Timothy 3[:2–4*, 6a*].114
Concerning Governing Authorities
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authority. For wherever the governing authority is, it is ordered by God. But whoever resists the governing authority, resists God’s order, and whoever resists will incur judgment, for that authority does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s handmaid who executes punishment against those who do evil.” From Romans 13[:1–2*, 4b*].115
For Husbands
“You husbands, live reasonably with your wives and, as co-heirs of the grace of life, give honor to wives as to the [weakest]116 instrument, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” From 1 Peter 3[:7*]. “And do not be harsh with them.” From Colossians 3[:19*].
For Wives
“Let wives be subjected to their husbands as to the Lord, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you have become her daughters, when you do right and are not so fearful.”117 From 1 Peter 3[:1*, 6*].118
For Parents
“You fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they become fearful. Instead, bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.” From Ephesians 6[:4*].
For Children
“You children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment that has a promise, namely: ‘that it may go well for you and that you may live long on earth.’ “ From Ephesians 6[:1–3*].
For Male and Female Servants, Day Laborers, Workers, etc.
“You servants,119 be obedient to your bodily lords with fear and trembling, with singleness of heart, as to Christ himself; not with service meant only for the eyes, done to please people, but rather as servants of Christ, so that you do the will of God from the heart [with a good will].120 Imagine to yourselves that you are serving the Lord and not people, and know that whatever good anyone does, the same will that person receive, whether servant or free.”121
For Masters and Mistresses122
“You lords, do the same to them, and refrain from making threats, and know that you also have a lord in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.” Ephesians 6[:9*].
For Young People in General
“You young people, be subject to your elders and in this way show humility. For ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in his time.” From 1 Peter 5[:5–6*].
For Widows
“She who is a real widow and is left all alone sets her hope on God and remains in prayer day and night; whereas she who lives self-indulgently is dead while alive.” From 1 Timothy 5[:5–6*].
For All in the Community123
“Love your neighbor as yourself. In this all the commandments are summarized.” From Romans 13[:9*]. “And entreat [God] with prayers for all people.” From 1 Timothy 2[:1*].124
Let all their lessons learn with care,
So that the household well may fare.125
110 Die Haustafel. Sometimes translated “table of duties” (a meaning of the term derived from its use here), this section may have been suggested to Luther by John Gerson’s Tractatus de modo vivendi omnium fidelium. Translation of the Bible passages here is based on Luther’s own rendering of the texts.
111 Luther is both playing on the common use of this term for the monastic life and referring to the three estates: ordo ecclesiasticus, politicus, and oeconomicus (church, government, and household). See SA, “Preface,” 14, and the Confession concerning Christ’s Supper (1528) (WA 26:503, 17/35–505, 28; LW 37:363–65).
112 Using a later edition of Luther’s German Bible, the 1536 edition of the Small Catechism and the Book of Concord have replaced “greedy for shameless profit” with the italicized text.
113 The italicized text was added to the 1540 edition of the Small Catechism and to the Book of Concord, using a passage from Titus 1:9*. Earlier editions simply ended with the word “etc.”
* 2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— 1 Timothy 3:2–4 (NRSV)
* 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:6 (NRSV)
114 The 1540 edition of the Small Catechism adds a section entitled “What Christians ought to do for their teachers and pastors [Seelsorger]” and includes texts from Luke 10:7*; 1 Corinthians 9:14*; Galatians 6:6–7*; 1 Timothy 5:17–18*; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13*; and Hebrews 13:17*. This material is neither in earlier editions of the Small Catechism nor in the Book of Concord. An abbreviated form, which omits passages from Luke and 1 Thessalonians, is found in Latin translations from 1529, in all likelihood added without Luther’s knowledge or consent.
* 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Romans 13:1–2 (NRSV)
* 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4 (NRSV)
115 The 1542 edition of the Small Catechism adds a section entitled “What subjects ought to do for the governing authority” and includes texts from Matthew 22:21*; Romans 13:1*, 5–7*; 1 Timothy 2:1–2*; Titus 3:1*; and 1 Peter 2:13–14*. This material is neither in earlier editions of the Small Catechism nor in the Book of Concord. An expanded form, which includes a reference to, but no text, of Matthew 17:24–27*, is found in Latin translations from 1529, in all likelihood added without Luther’s knowledge or consent.
116 Before 1536: “weak.”
* 7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life— so that nothing may hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7 (NRSV)
* 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Colossians 3:19 (NRSV)
117 The italicized text was first added to the 1536 edition of the Small Catechism. Earlier editions read “afraid of any terrifying thing.” See WA 12:341, 11–345, 27 (LW 30:87–91) for Luther’s sermon from 1522 on this text.
* 1 Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, 1 Peter 3:1 (NRSV)
* 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you. 1 Peter 3:6 (NRSV)
118 The words “as to the Lord” come from Ephesians 5:22*.
* 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (NRSV)
* 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”— this is the first commandment with a promise:
3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1–3 (NRSV)
119 Knecht: the male servant in the German household.
120 Before 1536, following earlier editions of the Wittenberg translation of the Bible, the Small Catechism read: “with compliance.”
121 Ephesians 6:5–8*.
122 Hausherrn und Hausfrauen: the heads of households. The words lord and master are the same in German.
* 9 And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality. Ephesians 6:9 (NRSV)
* 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5–6 (NRSV)
* 5 The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day;
6 but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 1 Timothy 5:5–6 (NRSV)
123 Gemeine: this word may be translated “the congregation,” “the community,” or “all in common.” Cf. Confession concerning Christ’s Supper (1528) (WA 26:506, 30–507, 6; LW 37:367–68).
* 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9 (NRSV)
* 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 1 Timothy 2:1 (NRSV)
124 A loose paraphrase.
125 This is most likely Luther’s own rhyme. See WA 35:580.