Ephesian 5: 9 Marriage Analysis

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Introduction

Exegesis is a study, which implies the study of a historical context and grammatical relations to determine what the text meant at its origin. We first need to understand the text and its message before we build a theological concept of it. However, it is unfortunate that theology, even though it is primitive, is already present when we read the text (Turner 2005:203). This essay will be pursuing the intent of the text without presupposing what its meaning is. However, I am aware that this can be difficult, as many teachings about the passage have passed through my ears. That is why the goal of this essay will not merely to give different information but provide a usable understanding of the passage in Ephesians 5: 21 – 6: 9
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In many ancient writers attributed women’s appropriate inferiority of rank in marriage and society to inferiority inherent in nature. Husbands were expected to rule their homes. They were also aware of geographical variations in marital gender roles. Women exercised more freedom in the western than the eastern Mediterranean, and Greeks recognized that historically Roman women were more influential (Evans & Porter 2000:689)

The writer of Ephesians is coming with a new culture that was not known by the gentiles. He is talking about submission on both parties, love on both parties, it is not a one-way duty, but he is recommending both the husband and the wife their obligations according to their differences. “But, remember, this means that the husband must give his wife the same sort of love that Christ gave to the church, when he sacrificed himself for her” Eph5: 23. Marriage is based on love, and love encompasses respect, understanding and trust. Therefore it accepts the differences between male and female and embraces them. The duties of the male and the female are not to uplift own and suppress the other, rather to work on those differences and respect each other equally. “Marriage forms the ground on which Christ meets the partners in daily, domestic life, and it represents a personal, concrete symbol of the intimate encounter with Christ” (Kidder,

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