Wives and Husbands (Ephesians 5:21-33)

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The text contains crucial teachings on marriage, emphasizing the love and mutual submission that should characterize the relationship between a husband and wife while drawing a parallel to the relationship between Christ and the Church.

The passage begins by calling believers to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). The following verses elaborate on this principle by addressing the roles of wives and husbands within marriage. Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22), while husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25-27). The husband's love should be sacrificial and nurturing, aimed at helping his wife grow in holiness.

The text further explains that husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies (Ephesians 5:28), and that no one ever hated their own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the Church (Ephesians 5:29). The passage then refers back to the creation account in Genesis, reiterating that a man should leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, becoming one flesh (Ephesians 5:31-32). The relationship between husband and wife is presented as a profound mystery, mirroring the union between Christ and the Church.

The theological message of Ephesians 5:21-33 highlights the importance of mutual submission, love, and respect within the marital relationship, reflecting the divine love and unity between Christ and the Church. The passage provides a model for Christian marriages, with husbands loving their wives sacrificially and unconditionally, and wives submitting to their husbands' leadership.

Vocabulary

Biblical text

5:21ὑποτασσόμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ.22Αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ,23ὅτι ἀνήρ ἐστιν κεφαλὴ τῆς γυναικὸς ὡς καὶ Χριστὸς κεφαλὴ τῆς ἐκκλησίας, αὐτὸς σωτὴρ τοῦ σώματος.24ἀλλὰ ὡς ἐκκλησία ὑποτάσσεται τῷ Χριστῷ, οὕτως καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἐν παντί.25Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας, καθὼς καὶ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς,26ἵνα αὐτὴν ἁγιάσῃ καθαρίσας τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος ἐν ῥήματι,27ἵνα παραστήσῃ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ ἔνδοξον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, μὴ ἔχουσαν σπίλον ῥυτίδα τι τῶν τοιούτων, ἀλλ’ ἵνα ἁγία καὶ ἄμωμος.28οὕτως ὀφείλουσιν καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες ἀγαπᾶν τὰς ἑαυτῶν γυναῖκας ὡς τὰ ἑαυτῶν σώματα. ἀγαπῶν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἑαυτὸν ἀγαπᾷ·29οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησεν, ἀλλὰ ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει αὐτήν, καθὼς καὶ Χριστὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν,30ὅτι μέλη ἐσμὲν τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ.31ἀντὶ τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν.32τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα ἐστίν, ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.33πλὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ καθ’ ἕνα ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα οὕτως ἀγαπάτω ὡς ἑαυτόν, δὲ γυνὴ ἵνα φοβῆται τὸν ἄνδρα.