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Ephesians 5:22-31 – Structure
The structure of Ephesians 5:22-33 is fairly simple. It goes back and forth between the physical and spiritual. Whether this is a chiasm, or something else, I don’t know. But for those who learn from how texts are structured, enjoy and if necessary correct.
A – PHYSICAL – HUSBAND IS HEAD: Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife,
B – SPIRITUAL – CHRIST SAVIOR OF CHURCH: Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ,
C – PHYSICAL – HUSBANDS LOVE WIVES: also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives,
D – SPIRITUAL – CHRIST DOES FOR THE CHURCH: as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless.
E – PHYSICAL – HUSBANDS LOVE WIVES AS SELF: husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,
D’ – SPIRITUAL – CHRIST DOES FOR THE CHURCH: just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.
C’ – PHYSICAL – HUSBANDS PRIORITIZE WIVES: For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
B’ – SPIRITUAL – CHRIST AND CHURCH MYSTERY: This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
A’ – PHYSICAL – WIFE RESPECTS HUSBAND: Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
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