What is the call for husbands and wives in Ephesians 5?

What is the call for husbands and wives in Ephesians 5?

• A. Wives submit to husbands as to the Lord; husbands love wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.
• B. Husbands submit to wives; wives rule over the husband.
• C. Husbands ignore wives; wives obey only when convenient.
• D. Wives and husbands should separate to avoid conflict.

Answer: (A)

This passage presents a Christ-centered model for marriage where both spouses have distinct, complementary roles rooted in love and reverence for Christ. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as they would submit to the Lord, situating their obedience within obedience to Christ. Husbands are urged to lead with sacrificial, self-giving love, mirroring Christ’s own love for the church and his willingness to give himself for her. The aim is unity, sanctification, and mutual respect, not domination or power struggles. This instruction sits within a larger pattern of mutual submission among believers and uses the husband–wife relationship to illustrate the profound connection between Christ and the church.

This passage presents a Christ-centered model for marriage where both spouses have distinct, complementary roles rooted in love and reverence for Christ. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as they would submit to the Lord, situating their obedience within obedience to Christ. Husbands are urged to lead with sacrificial, self-giving love, mirroring Christ’s own love for the church and his willingness to give himself for her. The aim is unity, sanctification, and mutual respect, not domination or power struggles. This instruction sits within a larger pattern of mutual submission among believers and uses the husband–wife relationship to illustrate the profound connection between Christ and the church.