EPHESIANS 5:20-24 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Giving Thanks; To give thanks; is used in admonitions to the saints, the Name of the Lord Jesus suggesting His character and example. The Greek word here is εὐχαριστέω eucharisteo. Vine's (def. B-1 3e), Strong's G2168.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Moving to Verse 21.
Submitting; primarily a military term, to rank under". In the Middle or Passive Voice, to subject oneself, to obey, be subject to. The Greek word here is ὑποτάσσω hupotasso. Vine's (def. A-1b) Strong's G5293.
NSB* - Verse 21 completes the thought of the previous verses (18-20), which address how being filled with the Spirit manifests itself in the believer's life. It also introduces the next section (5:22-6:4), about how members of a Christian family should relate to each other, submitting. The Greek word for submitting does not refer to being under the absolute control of another but to voluntarily placing oneself under the authority of another.
My Notes: Paul expands on how this all works when he covers how the local church Body is constructed elsewhere in scripture.
Fear Of God*; In relation to God, as a controlling motive of life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere "fear" of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a "fear" which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence. The Greek word is φόβος phobos. Vines (def A-1 b1) Strong's G5401.
So the idea here can also be stated as such - the reverential "fear" of God will inspire a constant carefulness in dealing with others. In His fear, a wholesome dread of displeasing Him.
Moving to Verse 22.
Wives; a woman; specially, a wife. This is qualified by the object "husbands". The Greek word is γυνή gune. Vine's (def 2), Strong's G1135.
Colossians 4: 1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Husbands; denotes, in general, a man, an adult male" (in contrast to anthropos, which generically denotes "a human being, male or female"); it is used of man in various relations, the context deciding the meaning; it signifies "a husband,". The Greek word for husband is ἀνήρ aner. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G435.
NSB - ...Love of Christ. Parents should not provoke children. Masters are not to threaten their slaves/bondservants/workers etc.. The apostle argues that serving is more important than being in authority over others; Christ should be our model. Although he, as God's Son, could command obedience from all, he did not shrink from performing duties that were customarily the task of a servant. If a husband is to be a Godly leader, he is to be a servant-leader. His role is to lead his wife, but to do so by taking everything about her into consideration and by using his position to give her the greatest opportunity to succeed. (para InDepth).
Moving to Verse 23.
Head Of The Wife; Metaphorically of the husband in relations to the wife. See this study.
Head Of The Church; Metaphorically of Christ in relation to the church. See this study.
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Savior Of The Body; a savior, deliverer, preserver," . Is used of Jesus Christ or God. The sustainer and preserver of the Church. The Greek word is σωτήρ soter. Vine's (def 1b), Strong's G4990
NSB - Just as Christ is not inferior to the Father, but is the second person in the Trinity, so wives are equal to their own husbands. Yet, in a marriage relationship, a husband and wife have different roles. To the Lord; a wives voluntary submission arises out of her own submission to Christ.
Moving to Verse 24.
My notes: we want to be sure we read this verse included with verses 22-23 outlining Paul's instruction on marriage and it's symbolism of Christ and the church.
Subject; in the Middle or Passive Voice, to subject oneself, to obey, be subject to. The Greek word here is also ὑποτάσσω hupotasso. Vine's (def. A-1b) Strong's G5293. Also used in Ephesians 5:21 and 5:22.
Christ - Church
Husbands - Wives
In Everything; often rendered "whatsoever;" governed by the preposition en, "in," without a noun following, it signifies "in every matter, or condition,". The Greek word is πᾶς pas. Vine's (def 1-2) Strong's G3956.
My Notes: When we talk about everything here, it has the idea of "everything within the conditions" God places on it. vs. 21 " as to the Lord". So we can conclude that any sin is not submitting to God, therefore a husband asking his wife to sin is not included in the "everything" clause. Colossians 3:18 also confirms this.
Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Takeaway - This passage is sadly used to beat down women in some circles and I strongly advise against doing that. In fact, husbands should be very careful to read the verses that follow this one, because as men who are going to be married who are already married, we are far from off the hook here. God Bless you all and keep spreading the gospel of Christ.
*Nelson Study Bible.
**God and Christ are interchangeable here.
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