Knowledge to support thoughts in order to ease minds

So I posted this as a facebook status: “It's pretty clear that Ephesians 5:21-33 is Paul showing that the original state of marriage (Genesis 1-2), one of absolute equality with no 'buts', with no 'head' being a symbol of authority, is now possible in a post Genesis 3 world. I find it difficult for anyone to every argue that man is the authority of the relationship/marriage from a Biblical standpoint.” I was then told this was irresponsible because it’s a thought stated without knowledge. So I guess here’s the responsible thing to do.

From my experience the traditional understanding of this text is ultimately man is the head of the woman, thus meaning the man has authority over the woman. Some might say this authority is physical, emotional, or spiritual but this is a gross misunderstanding of Paul’s intent and the overall Gospel narrative.

The section starts with, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph 5:21 KJV). This is the foundational thought and truth of the upcoming verses in which Paul is going to show that marriage, family, and society is being radically redefined by a resurrected people. There is nothing wrong with this verse. To me it is pretty simple in saying everyone, male and female, submit to one another in the fear of Christ.

The following verse is where the confrontation begins. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” (Eph 5:22 KJV). The problem with this verse in the original Greek manuscript is that the word “submit” does not exist. So it would read, “wives, yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” English needed a verb so it was taken from v.21 “submit.” Women are not told to submit here to their husbands, but to submit to them as they are submitted to Christ and equally men are submitted to their wives as they are to Christ.

The thought is because when women are “to be subject” and the man is to be “the head” that women are therefore inferior. This would make a little sense based off an English translation, but when we are originally written it is difficult to fit that logic into Paul’s argument. Given the mutual submission Gorman comments, “Subjection to one’s husband is a subset of the general community practice of subjection. The woman’s husband therefore has the same obligation (subjection) to her, inasmuch as they are members of the believing community.” It might be bad but I’d cross out “subject” or “submit” from verse 22.

What Paul has in view is marriage of the original intent, Genesis 2:24, “one flesh” is now possible in a post Genesis 3:16-17 world. The curse involved both male and female desire to rule over another, but the resurrection, a new creation, has restored the state of marriage, the state of one flesh, the intimate nature between “head” and “body”. “In Paul’s view this image primarily conveys, not the husband’s authority and the wife’s submission, but the intimate unity between the head and the body that makes them one flesh. Thus the head’s duty is not to govern but to nourish, and to do so sacrificially. The radical image of headship here is of a crucified Lord-power in weakness and self-giving love, which can be reciprocated”(Gorman).

When the text is view as much it is more inline with the life of Christ. Sometimes I take Philippians 2:6-11 as the benchmark for the ethic of the believing community, the rod by which we should measure our actions, our sense of power or authority. Man has no authority over a woman because “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28 NAS).

I find this incredibly important because the state of marriage amongst believers is one that does not point to a restored and renewed people. I believe the presuppositions we have on marriage, i.e. who's in authority, have greatly damaged our cause. Our example is Christ and we as male and female need to act as Christ who “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phi 2:6 NAS).