1. 12. Husbands & Wives
Ephesians 5:21-33
p. 1082

2. Controversy Ephesians 2005 – 3 weeks: Husbands & wives
Ancient context – controversial for husbands
Undermining Roman Pater Familias
Modern context – controversial for wives
Submission in a context of autonomy
Misuses cannot make us dismiss this text
Eagerly looking for right understanding

3. 1. Context & Principles Preceding three instructions on how to “walk”
Not as unwise but as wise (v 15)
Not as foolish, but understanding God’s will (v 17)
Not drunk with wine, but filled with the Spirit (v 18)

4. 1. Context & Principles …
Four participles follow “be filled with the Spirit”
Speaking to one another in psalms, … (v 19)
Singing to the Lord (v 19)
Giving thanks for everything (v 20)
Submitting to one another (v 21)
Submitting is explored in 3 relationships
Husband & wife; Slave & Master; Parent & Child.
Part of “being filled with the Spirit” (v 18)

5. 1. Context & Principles … Submission & Equality
Humans are created equal (Gen 1:27)
Identity is in Christ not race, gender, etc (Gal 3:28)
Does submission make someone less?
NO! (Mark 10:43-44). The servant is greater.
Should we consider others equal to ourselves?
NO! Consider them lit. “more excellent” (Phil 2:3)
Husband & wife – “one flesh” (v 31, Gen 2:24)

6. 1. Context & Principles … Rights & autonomy not the highest values
Scripture greatly values:
Sacrificial servanthood (as Christ-likeness)
Losing autonomy – identity “in Christ”
Marriage a sacramental covenant – like mystery of union with Christ

7. 1. Context & Principles … Helper & Husband:
Woman created as “helper” - Heb ’ezer. (Gen 2:18)
God as “helper” (Ps 33:20, Hos 13:9)
(We are “imitators of God” Eph 5:1)
God as “husband” (Isa 54:5, Jer 31:32, Hos 2:16)
Jesus is the “bridegroom” (Matt 9:15, Mark 2:9)
Similar metaphors – care, support, help, love.

8. 1. Context & Principles … General principles – sacrificial service:
Wife submit (v 22), all called to submission (v 21)
Husband called to love (v 25), all called to love (v 2)

9. 2. Wives Wives submit to your husbands (v 22, 24)
Willing & free, not coerced (it is voluntary)
Problem: many cultures reward dominance
Many strive for power

10. 3. Husbands Husband as “head” (v 23)
Christ’s “headship” – 3x (Eph 1:10, 22, 4:25)
Husband’s headship same as character of Christ

11. 3. Husbands … Saviour -vs- Lord
If Paul’s point is authority why does he say
“… of which he is Saviour” (v 23), not “Lord”?
Uses “Lord” 23x in Eph, “Saviour” 1x
In all his writings: Saviour 12x, “Lord” 276x
Why use the sacrificial imagery of “saviour”?
V 25 assigns responsibility to the husband to sacrificially care for his wife

12. 3. Husbands … Call to love as Christ loved (v 2 & v 25)
Linked to provision & care for wife (v 28-29)

13. – Living it – Power is replaced by servanthood. (Phil 2:6-8)
Who gets to make the decisions?
Do what is right & good
Husband does NOT do what pleases him
Summary – Eph 5:33.