Ephesians | Church & The Marital Relationship

Ephesians | church & the marital relationship

“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5.18; NRSV)

The statement is a directive (command). Paul writes in the second person plural. So Paul is speaking to everyone in all of his reading communities.

Some scholars include verse 21 with this paragraph: “being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

in fact, verses 18-21 are one continual sentence, discussing corporate worship

Then verse 22 begins a new paragraph. Spirit-led corporate worship stands alone, especially if you are single. However, there may also be a trickle-down effect that affects marital, familial, and working relationships in Christ.

The Greek ekklesia is what the Athenians call the local gathering, something like a town hall meeting. There is another name for a gathering of those who are outside of the local registry. The ekklesia is a members-only decision-making body. The ekklesia is often the same Greek term for church in the New Testament.

We see that Paul makes some cross-references to the church (ekklesia) in his marital creed (Ephesians 5.25-27, 29-30, 32).

Christian believers gather as an ekklesia, committed to doing the good work of Christ until we hear well done. As decision-making bodies, Paul compares the Athenian ekklesia to the membership of the church, and to the exclusivity of the marital dyad.

there are plenty of publications defining the relationship and marital roles

Are the husband and wife egalitarian?

Is there a utilitarian undercurrent in the marital relationship, defining the roles and persons only according to their usefulness?

Has the couple become patriarchal, matriarchal, matriarchal disguised at patriarchal, or some other form of authoritarianism?

1st do we need to define the relationship and marital roles?

The focus of this article is more about relationships, as affected by the church.

There are various opinions, various ways of defining the Biblical roles of the husband and wife (Ephesians 5.22, 24-25, 28, 31, 33).

2nd we may want to tentatively approach the Text

The reason we tentatively approach is because there is a holy aspect to the marital relationship, something far above what is trending. It can be viewed in a sacred light, a holy exploration of marital life together (verse 22-23).

For example, Paul is using creedal language. Therefore, a confessional rather than an analytical approach, may be better.

3rd the husband has a role affecting the whole household

Ambrose, a Primitive Church Bishop, relates his calling to Paul’s marital creed: “For them [those under my charge] I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”*

For Christian households, part of the husband’s role is to continue in processes of sanctification as our Lord leads. For instance, “the washing of water by the word,” is one of the ways the Lord keeps everything flowing toward sanctification/holiness in the relationship (verse 26).

What are some ways corporate worship (the Christian gathering) has affected you and/or your marital relationship?

Are there instances when you and your spouse realized that the marital relationship is sacred, especially in the last two-three weeks?