March 2, 2025

Called & Gifted

Is the Husband the "Head" of the Wife?

ICEBREAKER

Describe a time when you worked as part of a team. What made the team work well (or not work well)?

DISCUSSION

1. Pauls says in Ephesians 5:21 - "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" then explains what that looks like in various relationships (Ephesians 5:21-6:9)—wives to husbands (5:22), husbands to wives (5:25), children to parents (6:1), fathers to children (6:4), slaves to masters (6:5), and masters to slaves (6:9). This understanding is further supported by the fact that in the oldest original Greek manuscript, verse 22 does not contain the verb "submit." Rather, it's insinuated or borrowed from verse 21. The Lexham English Bible, one of the most literal translations out there, renders this verse as "—wives to their own husbands as to the Lord." Therefore, it cannot be used as a unique command for wives or women, and must be used in the context of verse 21. Furthermore, the word "submit" is equally absent from verse 24, other than for "as the church submits to Christ." Again, because it is borrowed from verse 21 for wives, it cannot be used as a unique command for women. See this article and this article if you're skeptical.
   1. How does this change our understanding of what Paul is teaching in this passage?
   2. Did Paul intend for us to think that the point of this passage is for wives to submit to their husbands and not husbands to their wives?
2. Remind each other what Pastor Jim shared about "The New Roman Woman," the Greek "Head-Body" metaphor, and the nature of Greek marriages.
   1. Why did Paul tell wives to submit to their husbands in everything as they do to the Lord?
   2. Why did Paul tell husbands to submit to their wives by loving them as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her?
3. Paul contrasts the Greek "head-body" metaphor with Christ. How does this change the way Ephesian husbands should see themselves and treat their wives?
4. In summary, the point Paul is trying to get across to the Ephesians is NOT that the husband has authority over the wife. Instead, Paul is teaching the Ephesians that husbands must submit themselves to their wives by loving them, giving up the status that culture gives husbands, and laying themselves down for their wives so that they can be built up.

​APPLICATION

1. How does the biblical model of mutual submission challenge or affirm your views on marriage?
2. What are some practical ways spouses can serve each other in love?
3. How can we help promote a biblical understanding of equality in the church and home?

ADDITIONAL STUDY (IF YOU'D LIKE TO FILL MORE TIME)

1. What does Genesis 1:26-27 tell us about God's intent for the equality of men and women?
2. How does Galatians 3:28 challenge traditional gender hierarchies?
3. Genesis 2:18 says, "The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (NIV) In the original Hebrew, Eve is described as an "ezer kenegdo." Ezer means “one who helps” and is a term used of God himself as the stronger one who helps in Psalm 33:20. ("We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help [ezer] and our shield.") Kenegdo means ”similar or equal to," indicating equality in correspondence, not subordination—"an equal companion.” Below are various translations of this verse.
   1. ​Which ones seem to communicate this intended meaning better?​
      1. NIV - "I will make a helper suitable for him.”
      2. KJV - "I will make him an help meet for him."
      3. CSB - "I will make a helper corresponding to him.”
      4. ISV - "I will make the woman to be an authority corresponding to him.”
      5. NET - "I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”
   2. What does this passage say about God's intent for the male-female relationship? 

PRAYER
Take time to ask for prayer requests. Then encourage people to pray for the women and marriages of our church and community as well as these prayer requests.