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22 · ho Wives gynē, be subject to ho your idios husbands anēr as hōs to the ho Lord kyrios, 23 for hoti the husband anēr is eimi the head kephalē of the ho wife gynē as hōs Christ Christos also kai · ho is the head kephalē of the ho church ekklēsia, and is himself autos the savior sōtēr of the ho body sōma. 24 But alla as hōs the ho church ekklēsia is subject hypotassō to ho Christ Christos, so houtōs also kai should · ho wives gynē be subject to their ho husbands anēr in en everything pas. 25 · ho Husbands anēr, love agapaō your ho wives gynē, just as kathōs · kai · ho Christ Christos loved agapaō the ho church ekklēsia and kai gave himself heautou up paradidōmi for hyper her autos, 26 that hina he might sanctify hagiazō her autos, cleansing katharizō her by the ho washing loutron of ho water hydōr through en the word rhēma, 27 so that hina he autos might present paristēmi the ho church ekklēsia to himself heautou in splendor endoxos, not having echō spot spilos or ē wrinkle rhytis or ē any tis · ho such thing toioutos, but alla that hina she might be eimi holy hagios and kai without blemish. 28 In the same way houtōs husbands anēr also kai should opheilō · ho love agapaō · ho their heautou wives gynē as hōs · ho their own heautou bodies sōma. He ho who loves agapaō · ho his heautou wife gynē loves agapaō himself heautou, 29 for gar no one oudeis ever pote hates miseō · ho his own heautou body sarx but alla nourishes ektrephō and kai takes care of thalpō it autos, just as kathōs · kai · ho Christ Christos does the ho church ekklēsia, 30 since hoti we are eimi members melos of ho his autos body sōma. 31  For anti this reason houtos a man anthrōpos shall leave kataleipō his ho father patēr and kai his ho mother mētēr and kai be joined proskollaō to pros · ho his autos wife gynē, and kai the ho two dyo shall become eimi one heis flesh sarx.” 32 · ho This houtos mystery mystērion is eimi profound megas, but de I egō am speaking legō about eis Christ Christos and kai about eis the ho church ekklēsia. 33 Nevertheless plēn, · kai each hekastos one heis of kata you hymeis · ho is to love agapaō · ho his heautou wife gynē as hōs he loves himself heautou, and de the ho wife gynē is to respect phobeomai her ho husband anēr.

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Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 Wives, be subject [a]to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].

25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become [b]one flesh.(A) 32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church. 33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear].(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:22 The wife to her husband, not to men in general; not as inferior to him, nor in violation of her Christian ethics, but honoring her husband as protector and head of the home, respecting the responsibility of his position and his accountability to God.
  2. Ephesians 5:31 The bond between husband and wife supersedes all other relationships.