Bible Commentary

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 29. no man ever ] under normal conditions. True, in a distorted mental state a man may “hate his own flesh.” And in obedience to the will of God a man may so act as … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:29”

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 28. So ] With a love akin to the love of Christ just described. The Gr. word is one whose reference tends to preceding ideas. as their own bodies ] A clause explanatory of “So” just above. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:28”

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 27. that he ] In the Gr. “ He ” is emphatic; “He to Himself;” with stress on the Lord’s personal action. present ] Cp. for similar … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:27”

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 26. sanctify and cleanse it] Better, again, her. And the pronoun is slightly emphatic by position; as if to say, “It was in her interest that He did this, and so in the wife’s interest the husband should be ready … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:26”

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 25. Husbands ] Here the instruction is equally precise and more full. Cp. 1Pe 3:7. love ] “in deed and in truth” (1Jn 3:18), “giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Pet., quoted above). Monod … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:25”

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. 24. Therefore ] Translate, certainly, But. The Apostle has guarded the husband s headship from undue comparison with the Lord’s; but now he enforces its true likeness to it. their own ] There is an … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:24”

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. 23. the head ] See 1Co 11:3. The husband and the wife are “one flesh” (Eph 5:31), and the husband, in that sacred union, is the leader. So Christ … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:23”

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 22 32. Special Exhortations: the Christian Home: Wife and Husband 22. Wives ] Cp. Col 3:18; 1Pe 3:1-6. In Col. the corresponding instructions about domestic duty are drawn expressly from the truth (Col 3:1) that the believer lives, in the risen Christ, a resurrection-life. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:22”

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 21. submitting ] The primary point in the spiritual ethics of the Gospel is humiliation; self is dethroned as against God, and consequently as against men. Here the special, but not exclusive, reference is to fellow-Christians. “[The precept] seems to have been suggested by the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:21”

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 20. always for all things] Because everything in hourly providence is an expression, to the believing heart, of God’s “good, perfect, and acceptable will” (Rom 12:2). In view of this, the Christian will be thankful, both … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ephesians 5:20”