Ephesians 5:23

“For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being Himself the saviour of the body”

“For”: The reason why such submission is commanded. “Head”: Compare with 1 Corinthians 11:3. What true headship means and involves will be defined in the following verses, especially Ephesians 5:25-29. “Christ also is the head of the church”:

Thus to ridicule male leadership is to ridicule Jesus Christ. Paul links male leadership in the home with Jesus' headship over the church. Thus the church that rejects male headship in the home is the same church that has just rejected Jesus as it's own head. “Also”: “In the same way that” (Phi). “Some have argued that this word head means only source. but the lexical evidence and Paul's own usage in Ephesians 1:22 are conclusive in support of the meaning leader or ruling authority. In Ephesians 1:22 Paul says that God ‘subjected all things under Christ's feet and that Christ was appointed to be head over all things'. Now, in the context of chapter five, Paul clearly intends to use these key words in the same sense” (Boles p. 312). Thus the argument that says that the husband is only the source of his wife, must concede that Christ is only the source of the Church, but that He has absolutely no authority over the church. “Being Himself the savior of the body”: “Which is His body that He saves” (Beck). While Christ is the potential Savior of all men (since all can repent, 2 Peter 3:9), in reality Christ will only save those who are in "the body", the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Thus one must be. member of the church to be saved. The church is not an optional relationship (Acts 20:28). The idea that one can be. Christian or have. personal relationship with Jesus Christ, without being in the Church is false. How can you have. personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if you are not in "the body" that He will save? If you re not in the body, then Christ is not your personal Savior. “When Jesus accepted the responsibility of being head over His body, the church, it meant He had to be willing to serve as savior and protector--to rescue the church from danger” (Boles p. 313).

At this point. would like to respond to that segment of our society that feels that the biblical doctrine of "female subjection" is to blame for wife abuse. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Look at these passages, consider carefully what is demanded of the husband. Does Christianity give any encouragement or even any "hint" of endorsement for the husband who beats his wife? In reality, the real causes for abused women are found in society. Our society teaches no absolute truths, then how can beating one's wife be absolutely wrong? Our society has legalized abortion. If my wife can kill our child, then why is it wrong when. beat her? Our society teaches situation ethics, that it's alright to kill someone, if you are under tremendous pressure, if they have abused you, if they are standing in the way of your happiness (abortion). Then why doesn't the stress the husband is under, allow him to take out his frustration upon his wife? Contrary to the ignorant claims of society, when all is said and done, it will be found that marriage was predominately. safe haven for women, and that far more women were abused and beaten, not by their own husbands, but in relationships that the world had substituted for marriage, such as living together.