HUSBAND LOVE YOUR WIFE
One of the ancient rabbis of Jewish history stated, “The secret of Adam is the secret of Messiah.” To come to an understanding of the entire panorama of Biblical truths, one must view them after the same fashion in which God gave these truths. And to do this, one MUST go back to the very foundation upon which these truths rest – the Book of Genesis – and ascertain the same truths relative to Adam.
Scripture MUST be interpreted in light of Scripture, and Scripture MUST be interpreted after the manner in which it was written (types, shadows, word pictures, etc.). All other methods of Scriptural interpretation can only lead to a multiplicity of pseudo thoughts and opinions originating from and held by man today. And because we are “convinced” that we are correct, we are passionate about what we teach; let us put all our “passion” and “convictions” aside and ensure that what we believe aligns with the Word of God. Then we can reaffirm our beliefs if they are in accord with the Word, or abandon, if they don’t. In Acts we are told that the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians because the searched the Scriptures for themselves:
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
KJV
The Church is to one day reign with the last Adam in the same position that Eve was to reign with the first Adam. But during the time when the effects of the fall are present, prior to this reign, the Church is to occupy the same position to Christ that Eve occupied relative to Adam following the fall. Eve, following the fall, was no longer in the position of co-regent with Adam but was placed in subjection to Adam:
Gen 3:16
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
KJV
Be reminded of the purpose for which God made man:
Gen 1:26-28
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
KJV
In like manner, the Church today is not in a position of co-regent with Christ but, rather, is subject to Christ:
Eph 5:24
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
KJV
This statement of “subjection” of a wife to her husband has sparked many debates, ignited many disruptions, divert many well intended relationships that otherwise might have ended in marriage, and even dissolve many marriages; that if the proper understanding was ascertained might well be averted.
Without further ado, the operative word that settles this story is the word LOVE. The Scripture says, “Husbands, LOVE your wives” and it is even strengthened by the following phrase, “as Christ LOVE the Church.” When a couple gets married, the two becomes ONE. Eve could not reign while subject to Adam; nor can the Church reign while subject to Christ. The completion of the redemption of Christians must occur first (body and soul). Then, and only then, can they be placed in a position which Eve occupied in relation to the first Adam prior to the fall. Then, and only then, can they reign as “joint-heirs” with Christ in the kingdom (cf. Rom. 8:16-23; 1 Pet. 1:9-11; 4:12, 13).
The Book of Ephesians teaches that the Church is the body of Christ, and in chapter 5 Paul’s argument seems to be that because the Church is His body, she is “one” with Christ (vs. 25-33). This is what is pre-figured in the relationship shown between Adam and Eve:
Gen 2:23-24
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
KJV
It is unnatural for one to abuse his own flesh in any form or fashion. And it is understood that if one is normal he will “love” his own body. Just imagine that it was possible for you to be at one point and your hands are at another, how concerned we would be as to how our hands are doing in our absence. We would not want to do anything that would affect the shoulders to which the hands are connect, that on the return of the hands they would be put back together without any difficulty.
According to Eph. 5:25-27, Christ “gave Himself” for the Church [past v. 25], “that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word [present v. 26], “that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, nor wrinkle, or any such thing” [future v. 27].
If one will make the comparison according to proper exegesis of the text; between the husband being “the head” of the wife and the wife “being in subjection” to her husband; it will be evident that there is no place for male dominance and female subjugation.
Eph 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
KJV
The wife is asked to look beyond her husband and see the Lord, “…..as unto the Lord.” The husband is “head” of the wife “…..even as Christ is head of the Church.” The first thing that comes to mind about Christ’s relationship with His Church is that He “died” for her. And that was a literal death. The Love that Christ has for the Church never hurts the Church, Christ is the one that is hurt for her.
The word “head” kephale
NT:2776 (kef-al-ay'); from the primary kapto (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively:
KJV - head.
Men, being “head” means you are responsible for everything and you have to not only see that things go right, but when they go wrong you are responsible. You are responsible for what your wife does, for what the pet in the house does, for the working condition of the foist in the laundry room, for rodents in the garage, for molds in the lawn; and the list goes on. As I hinted earlier, you are responsible for your wife’s happiness no matter what is the cause of her sadness. With a proper understanding of these requirements, many of us men would do better having the wife’s role to play – “the head as that part most readily taken hold of”.
The word “submit” hupotasso
NT:5293 (hoop-ot-as'-so); from NT:5259 and NT:5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:
I would like to emphasize the word “reflexively” and it shows that it’s not forced. It might sound like a contradiction, but it’s not. It just shows that the wife being a part of the body, enjoys the way she is treated to the extend that she allows herself to be guided by a “head” that is in “one” accord with her.
Therefore, both being the “head” of the wife and the wife being in “subjection” to the husband is the garentee for a happy and long-lasting relationship in marriage. It is a type here on earth to show what Christ has in store for His bride. We have a responsibility to make the example that Christ intends be evident to the world that’s looking on:
Gen 2:24
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh .
KJV
One of the ancient rabbis of Jewish history stated, “The secret of Adam is the secret of Messiah.” To come to an understanding of the entire panorama of Biblical truths, one must view them after the same fashion in which God gave these truths. And to do this, one MUST go back to the very foundation upon which these truths rest – the Book of Genesis – and ascertain the same truths relative to Adam.
Scripture MUST be interpreted in light of Scripture, and Scripture MUST be interpreted after the manner in which it was written (types, shadows, word pictures, etc.). All other methods of Scriptural interpretation can only lead to a multiplicity of pseudo thoughts and opinions originating from and held by man today. And because we are “convinced” that we are correct, we are passionate about what we teach; let us put all our “passion” and “convictions” aside and ensure that what we believe aligns with the Word of God. Then we can reaffirm our beliefs if they are in accord with the Word, or abandon, if they don’t. In Acts we are told that the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians because the searched the Scriptures for themselves:
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
KJV
The Church is to one day reign with the last Adam in the same position that Eve was to reign with the first Adam. But during the time when the effects of the fall are present, prior to this reign, the Church is to occupy the same position to Christ that Eve occupied relative to Adam following the fall. Eve, following the fall, was no longer in the position of co-regent with Adam but was placed in subjection to Adam:
Gen 3:16
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
KJV
Be reminded of the purpose for which God made man:
Gen 1:26-28
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
KJV
In like manner, the Church today is not in a position of co-regent with Christ but, rather, is subject to Christ:
Eph 5:24
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
KJV
This statement of “subjection” of a wife to her husband has sparked many debates, ignited many disruptions, divert many well intended relationships that otherwise might have ended in marriage, and even dissolve many marriages; that if the proper understanding was ascertained might well be averted.
Without further ado, the operative word that settles this story is the word LOVE. The Scripture says, “Husbands, LOVE your wives” and it is even strengthened by the following phrase, “as Christ LOVE the Church.” When a couple gets married, the two becomes ONE. Eve could not reign while subject to Adam; nor can the Church reign while subject to Christ. The completion of the redemption of Christians must occur first (body and soul). Then, and only then, can they be placed in a position which Eve occupied in relation to the first Adam prior to the fall. Then, and only then, can they reign as “joint-heirs” with Christ in the kingdom (cf. Rom. 8:16-23; 1 Pet. 1:9-11; 4:12, 13).
The Book of Ephesians teaches that the Church is the body of Christ, and in chapter 5 Paul’s argument seems to be that because the Church is His body, she is “one” with Christ (vs. 25-33). This is what is pre-figured in the relationship shown between Adam and Eve:
Gen 2:23-24
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
KJV
It is unnatural for one to abuse his own flesh in any form or fashion. And it is understood that if one is normal he will “love” his own body. Just imagine that it was possible for you to be at one point and your hands are at another, how concerned we would be as to how our hands are doing in our absence. We would not want to do anything that would affect the shoulders to which the hands are connect, that on the return of the hands they would be put back together without any difficulty.
According to Eph. 5:25-27, Christ “gave Himself” for the Church [past v. 25], “that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word [present v. 26], “that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, nor wrinkle, or any such thing” [future v. 27].
If one will make the comparison according to proper exegesis of the text; between the husband being “the head” of the wife and the wife “being in subjection” to her husband; it will be evident that there is no place for male dominance and female subjugation.
Eph 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
KJV
The wife is asked to look beyond her husband and see the Lord, “…..as unto the Lord.” The husband is “head” of the wife “…..even as Christ is head of the Church.” The first thing that comes to mind about Christ’s relationship with His Church is that He “died” for her. And that was a literal death. The Love that Christ has for the Church never hurts the Church, Christ is the one that is hurt for her.
The word “head” kephale
NT:2776 (kef-al-ay'); from the primary kapto (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively:
KJV - head.
Men, being “head” means you are responsible for everything and you have to not only see that things go right, but when they go wrong you are responsible. You are responsible for what your wife does, for what the pet in the house does, for the working condition of the foist in the laundry room, for rodents in the garage, for molds in the lawn; and the list goes on. As I hinted earlier, you are responsible for your wife’s happiness no matter what is the cause of her sadness. With a proper understanding of these requirements, many of us men would do better having the wife’s role to play – “the head as that part most readily taken hold of”.
The word “submit” hupotasso
NT:5293 (hoop-ot-as'-so); from NT:5259 and NT:5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:
I would like to emphasize the word “reflexively” and it shows that it’s not forced. It might sound like a contradiction, but it’s not. It just shows that the wife being a part of the body, enjoys the way she is treated to the extend that she allows herself to be guided by a “head” that is in “one” accord with her.
Therefore, both being the “head” of the wife and the wife being in “subjection” to the husband is the garentee for a happy and long-lasting relationship in marriage. It is a type here on earth to show what Christ has in store for His bride. We have a responsibility to make the example that Christ intends be evident to the world that’s looking on:
Gen 2:24
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh .
KJV
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