Here, in Ephesians 5:21-33, we encounter a part of Paul’s thinking that has annoyed many women and some men, in particular some ministers of most religions. Unfortunately cultural struggles lead people reading this part of Paul’s writings to pay little attention to the power and challenge this great writer offers the world.
“Be submissive to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This sentence, by the way is in the verses cited above. His words are not directives aimed at enslaving women. Rather, I propose for your prayer that Paul’s exhortation is a summons to men and women alike, especially to those who are married or planning to become husband and wife, to love one another to the fullest.
Paul is calling all to be subordinate to each other. It is the reminder that each person is a creation of God, that human beings are sacred. As such, each husband and wife is called upon to always remember that the other, the spouse, is not meant to be a slave for one’s purposes or needs of any kind. The mystery Paul presents to us is the mystery of love. Perhaps the great and sometimes painful demands of love are causes realities that cause individuals to abandon the respect, the genuine love that Paul encourages for all men and women.
“Be submissive to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This sentence, by the way is in the verses cited above. His words are not directives aimed at enslaving women. Rather, I propose for your prayer that Paul’s exhortation is a summons to men and women alike, especially to those who are married or planning to become husband and wife, to love one another to the fullest.
Paul is calling all to be subordinate to each other. It is the reminder that each person is a creation of God, that human beings are sacred. As such, each husband and wife is called upon to always remember that the other, the spouse, is not meant to be a slave for one’s purposes or needs of any kind. The mystery Paul presents to us is the mystery of love. Perhaps the great and sometimes painful demands of love are causes realities that cause individuals to abandon the respect, the genuine love that Paul encourages for all men and women.
Paul reminds his readers that Jesus Christ is the model for all human beings in living a life of respect for others. It was Jesus’ love for all that have him the strength to utter these words: Father, mot my will but your will be done. We also say or hear these words often: Jesus so loved the world (each person created by God in particular) that he suffered and died for the forgiveness of our sins. Those two words, “so love:, are the driving force in Paul’s heart. Can we not say that in his “so loving” the world and all of us living in it that he “subordinated” himself to each of us, men and women who have sinned, so that our punishment for sin could be removed?
This is the great mystery of love that seems to be lost because one word is understood with only one meaning. What a power this has been in undermining the love that is the heart of Paul’s message.
This is the great mystery of love that seems to be lost because one word is understood with only one meaning. What a power this has been in undermining the love that is the heart of Paul’s message.
