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Ephesians 5:21-33 This Scripture passage has often been used
out of context to justify husbands commanding
over their wives. Yet taken in context, with
verse 21, we believe it speaks instead of
what each of us need to do as an act of love
toward the other in marriage. Since marriage
is a parallel to Christ and the Church, it
seems evident that both parties are active
and involved in the life of love. How does
Christ act toward the Church? Any husband
who acts similarly won't go far wrong. For
further readings on this topic, we recommend
the Christians for Biblical Equality website. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind--yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband. |