Question:  Dear Greg,

            I listened to one of your broadcasts and felt you did a good job of explaining the husband’s role in marriage but came up short in the wife’s role.  You never explained what it meant for wives to submit or what “the husband is head of the wife,” meant.  It was a very one-sided presentation.  I am not saying it was intentional on your part, but for whatever reason, that is the way you presented it.

            Also, I think you mischaracterized Ephesians 5:21 which is talking about the approach of any Christian to another, not the specific approach of husband to wife or vice versa.  I’m not saying your information was bad, just that it was one-sided.  And with respect to Ephesians 5:21, you made a specific application out of something intended for a more general application of Christians toward Christians.

            Thanks for your dedication in serving Christ,

            Dan

Answer:  Dear Dan,

            In order to present a careful exegesis of the passage in question, as well as the topic of marriage that Paul--under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—gives, would take many broadcasts.  I am sure you understand.

            Further, our broadcasts are not exclusively aimed at those who have a healthy, well-balanced relationship with God, but also toward those who need to know him better or who do not know him at all.  With that in mind, we do not offer in-depth materials on the radio.  We have ministry tools such as this Question and Answer, as well as many printed resources to address such needs.

            I appreciate your thoughts about coming up short in addressing responsibilities of the wife in this passage—thank you for noting that.  In terms of a correct exegesis of Ephesians 5:21, it is important to understand the context.  While translators and editors indicate a break in thought by placing a heading (in my NIV version, “Wives and Husbands”), those headings are not part of the inspired word of God.

            A careful study of the larger passage, given its literary structure and logical progression seems to show that this verse marks at the very least a bridge from Paul’s exhortations in verses 1-20, to his instructions (as distinct from exhortations) in 5:22-6:9.  He notes, as he begins to address the marital and family relationships, the fact (borne out of his own experience in places like Corinth, among others) that pride, arrogance, authoritarianism and self-centered individuality is the opposite of the servant/leader modeled by our Lord.  As a topic, submission to one another as unto the Lord is mentioned over 20 times by Paul in his letters.

            So, yes, verse 21 is a general application as in his other letters, but there is absolutely no doubt that the mention has specific application to the marital relationship because that is the immediate context that follows.  The phrase in verse 21, “out of reverence for God” is a powerful term.  It reminds us that we submit to one another in all situations because Jesus Christ submitted to us, washing our feet, bearing our sins and loving us while we were yet sinners—not because we gave him honor, respect and reverence, but in spite of that.

            Thanks for your comments and again, for the opportunity to serve you.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht