Although men and women are equal in relationship with Christ, Scripture gives each of them separate roles in marriage. The husband must assume leadership in the home (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23). This leadership should not be dictatorial, condescending, or superior, but should be consistent with the example of Christ's leadership of the Church.
Ephesians 5:25, 26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her, in order to sanctify her, cleansing her with the washing of water through the word;
Christ loves the Church (His people) with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, respect and selflessness. In the same way, husbands should love their wives.
Wives must submit to the authority of their husbands.
Ephesians 5:21–24
obeying one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, and He is the Savior of the body. But just as the Church submits to Christ, so do wives to their husbands in everything.
Although wives are to be submissive to their husbands, the Bible instructs husbands several times on how they should treat their wives. A husband should not turn into a dictator; he should show respect for his wife and her opinion. In fact, Ephesians 5:28–29 encourages men to love their wives in the same way they love their bodies by nourishing and caring for them. The love of a husband for his wife should be the same as the love of Christ for His body - the Church.
Colossians 3:18, 19
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, you, husbands, treat your wives prudently, as with the weakest vessel, showing them honor, as joint heirs of the grace of life, so that there is no hindrance in your prayers.
From these verses we see that love and respect characterize the roles of both husbands and wives. If these qualities are present, then authority, guidance, love and submission will not be a problem for either partner.
Regarding the distribution of responsibilities in the home, the Bible tells husbands to provide for their families. This means that the husband should work and earn enough money to provide for all the needs of his wife and children. Avoiding this has certain spiritual consequences.
1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not take care of his own, and especially his family, he has renounced the faith and is worse than an infidel.
Therefore, a man who does not make efforts to provide for his family has no right to bear the title of Christian. This does not mean that the wife cannot help him in this regard—Proverbs 31 demonstrates that a godly wife can certainly participate in this matter—but providing for the family is not her primary responsibility. Although a husband should help with the children and household chores (fulfilling his responsibility to love his wife), Proverbs 31 also makes it clear that the home is the wife's primary sphere of influence and responsibility. Even if she has to go to bed late and get up early, her family should be properly looked after. This is not an easy lifestyle for many women, especially in affluent Western nations. However, too many women are under a lot of stress and are stressed to the limit. To avoid such stressful situations, both husband and wife must prayerfully reorder their priorities and follow the Bible's instructions regarding their roles.
Proverbs 31:10–31
Who will find a virtuous wife? its price is higher than pearls; The heart of her husband is confident in her, and he will not be left without profit; she rewards him with good, not evil, all the days of her life.
He produces wool and flax, and willingly works with his hands. She, like merchant ships, gets her bread from afar. She gets up while it is still night and distributes food in her house and food to her maids. She thinks about a field and acquires it; from the fruit of his hands he plants a vineyard. He girds his loins with strength and strengthens his muscles. She feels that her work is good, and her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the spinning wheel, and her fingers take hold of the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and gives her hand to the needy. She is not afraid of cold for her family, because her whole family is dressed in double clothing. She makes her own carpets; Fine linen and purple are her clothing. Her husband is known at the gate when he sits with the elders of the land. She makes bedspreads and sells them, and delivers belts to the Phoenician merchants. Strength and beauty are her clothes, and she looks cheerfully at the future. She opens her lips with wisdom, and gentle instruction is on her tongue. She oversees the management of her house and does not eat the bread of idleness. The children get up and please her, the husband praises her: “There were many virtuous wives, but you surpassed them all.”
Loveliness is deceptive, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the Lord is worthy of praise. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her deeds glorify her at the gates!
Conflicts regarding the division of responsibilities in marriage are inevitable, but if both partners are committed to Christ, then these conflicts will be minimized. If a couple sees arguments occurring too frequently and intensely, or if arguments seem to characterize their marriage, the problem is spiritual. In this case, partners must, first of all, rededicate themselves to prayer and submission to Christ, and then - with love and respect - to each other.
This phrase is not from the Gospel, but from the Epistle to the Ephesians
They often try to look at the phrase “let the wife fear her husband” in context, for which the priests are asked for the full text from the Gospel. But he can't be found. The fact is that this statement is found in another Bible book - the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
This is a small manuscript, actually a letter. The apostle, famous for his epistles, addressed it to Christians who lived in Ephesus. This city is familiar to lovers of ancient culture and history. Mainly because here on the coast stood the famous temple of Artemis of Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Bible gives many examples of wives who obeyed their husbands with great dedication even in the most difficult situations. Such a woman can be called Sarah, the ancestor of the people of Israel. She was devoted to her husband Abraham in everything
The work of the apostles was crowned with success - these lands were once under the control of Byzantium, but today the influence of Christianity is not high here, for this is the territory of Muslim Turkey.
In his letter, the Apostle Paul touched on the following topics:
- Blessing in Christ;
- Saving grace;
- Unity of the Church and Faith;
- Responsibilities of Christians;
The author talks about the duties of children, wives and slaves. Today, statements in support of slavery from the founder of Christianity seem strange, but theologians remind us that in ancient times there were realities that do not fit into today’s standards.
Comments
- Lily
:06.12.2019 at 10:49
Still, we must take into account that the Asian mentality is obsessed with the submissiveness of women. Well, how far have they gone in their culture? Yes, they didn’t go anywhere. I know that in the Russian Empire women managed the business, the home and the husband. And this is only for the good, because a man is inclined to fornicate, hang around with friends, drink alcohol, gamble, and he needs a firm hand to control him.
Answer
Magpie
:
12/17/2019 at 10:13
It’s a pity there is no article for inciting gender hatred.
Answer
- 777
:
01/06/2020 at 00:17
For God's sake. I didn’t drink, I didn’t fornicate, I didn’t gamble, I don’t need a firm hand. You won’t find a calm, loving, feminine one... But there are a lot of brick hands, strained nerves, an intemperate tongue. Where have the typical Slavic women gone?
Answer
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Responsibilities of a wife: love, humility, grooming, kindness
The wife is the core of family life. How many great people have been inspired by their wives! Christians often metaphorically elevate marriage to two images: Christ and the Church. Christ loved God's creation with sincere love.
The love of spouses is of a slightly different nature. There is passion and times when feelings cool down. Should a wife always love her husband? It's probably impossible. We can all become disappointed, tired of our spouse, or want to relax in solitude. But striving for these ideals is very beneficial for seven.
We have already figured out what the husband owes. Now about what wives owe to their husbands:
- Loving your husband:
“...to admonish young people to love their husbands.”
Titus 2:4
- Be kind:
“Whoever finds a good wife has found good [silence] and received grace from the Lord.”
Proverbs 18.22
“A good wife is a happy [good] lot [part].”
Sire. 26.3
- Show humility:
“Let the wife study in silence, with all submission; But I do not allow a wife to teach, nor to rule over her husband, but to be in silence.”
1 Tim. 2:11
- Strive for beauty of spirit, meekness and humility:
“Let your adornment not be the outward braiding of your hair, nor the golden ornaments, nor the elegance of your clothing.”
1 Peter 3:3
- Show your husband due favor:
“The husband show his wife due favor; likewise is a wife to her husband.”
1 Cor.7:3
A wife should take care of her beauty.
- To be chaste, pure, God-fearing, bashful:
“...when they see your pure, God-fearing life. Let your adornment be not the outward braiding of your hair, not gold jewelry or finery in clothing, but the hidden person of the heart in the imperishable beauty of a meek and silent spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
1 Peter 3:2-4
“Children and the building of a city perpetuate a name, but a blameless wife is considered superior to both.”
Sire. 40. 19
“Grace upon grace is a shameful woman, and there is no suitable measure for a self-controlled soul.”
Sire. 26. 18-19
- Take care of your home:
“A wise woman will build her house, but a foolish woman will destroy it with her own hands.”
Proverbs 14:1
You can often come across the phrase “woe to the husband who is ruled by his wife,” but it is not from the Bible and has nothing to do with Christianity. Rather, we can say that a wife can still control her husband, but not directly. She can guide him with hints, according to her wisdom.
But he must make decisions, even if only nominally. If there are problems with understanding in the family, then there is no love. When it is there, it is not difficult to both give in and insist. Father Vladimir (Golovin) speaks about this in the video:
Therefore, from the phrase “let the wife fear her husband,” we can understand that a disobedient wife is very bad, because the husband is given the place not of a leader, but of a henpecked man. , depends on a huge percentage on the respect given by the spouse.
“He will be afraid” is an unsuccessful translation; it meant to honor, respect, etc.
It wasn't really about any fear. Christianity is a religion of love. There is no place for intimidation. And anyone who tries to squeeze motives of intimidation into religion only distorts the teachings of Christ. Let us remember what the Bible tells us: husband and wife are one flesh. Can the flesh be afraid of itself? Can she inflict suffering or pain on herself? In no case.
But Orthodoxy is based on the Synodal translation. Nobody said he was perfect. That's why there are problems with quotes.
A wife should not be afraid of her husband, but treat him with respect. Then a man blossoms, gains strength and is able to reach any heights. There are many examples of great couples where women played a very important role. Vera Slonim is the wife of the outstanding Russian and foreign writer Vladimir Nabokov. Despite her impoverished life in forced emigration, she inspired and supported her husband, which helped him achieve recognition, become a classic of Russian and foreign literature and one of the best writers in the world
Priest Afanasy (Gumerov) explains this difficulty this way:
“The translator of the Epistle of St. will be afraid of the word. ap. Paul to the Ephesians was translated into Slavic by Greek. phobitai, which has several meanings, including honor, respect, care. Slav. The verb "to be afraid" also contains these meanings. The apostle undoubtedly had this meaning in mind.
This is easy to see if you read the verse in full: “So let each of you love his wife as himself; but let the wife fear her husband” (5:33).
The husband is commanded to love his wife as himself. Such love excludes relations of domination and fear. We will be even more confirmed in this understanding if we carefully read the entire fifth chapter and the last verses of the previous one: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all irritation and rage and anger and shouting and slander along with all malice be removed from you; but be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (4.30-32).
From verse 23, chapter 5. The apostle says that Christian marriage is built in the image of the relationship between Christ and the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her” (5.25).”
Afanasy (Gumerov)
priest
The new Russian translation of the Bible corrected this error:
“And as for you, let every husband love his wife as himself, and let the wife honor her husband.”
Eph. 5:33
