SPELLING EDITED

L-8. WHAT DOES EPHESIANS 5:22 TRULY MEAN!

The first thing that I want to point out is that the original text of the New Testament was written in Greek and there were no verses and punctuation marks. In other words, it was the translators who decided to make Ephesians 5:22 to be a NEW sentence. In fact, in some Bibles right before verse 22, the translators added a NEW heading. Let me show you what I mean just in case your Bible does not have these added heading.

Please read Ephesians 5:21,22.

“21.  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

Wives and Husbands

22.  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

Now, Christians who are not aware that these kinds of headings were added by the translators could easily be misled to wrongly believe that verse 22 is the start of a NEW sentence to introduce a NEW subject that has no connection to the above context. But in TRUTH, verse 22 does not even have a VERB so it cannot possibly be a new sentence because every sentence must have a verb. Some of you may be thinking to yourselves, Mark, the word, “SUBMIT” is a VERB. But the verb “submit” was ADDED by the translators. For you see, if you look at the original text you will find that the verb “SUBMIT” is NOT in the original Greek text. Please take a moment to click on the link in blue that says literal translation to see for yourself that I am teaching you the TRUTH.

The LITERAL translation of Ephesians 5:22 reads.

“the women (Or the wives) to the husbands be you being underset as to the Lord”

Now, the translators knew that there was no verb so they went to the context of the previous verse and saw the ADVERBIAL CLAUSE “submitting to one another” and used the verb “submit” to verse 22 to make verse 22 a new sentence. So you have to ask yourself WHY? Why did the translators feel like they needed to make verse 22 a NEW sentence? Why not simply leave verse 22 as a clause directly connected to verse 21? Let us go ahead and read verses 21 and 22 together in the way that they are in the original text so you can learn the TRUTH meaning of Ephesians 5:22.

Ephesian 5:21.21 the way they should read together.

“21.  Submitting yourselves ONE to ANOTHER in the fear of God. 

22.  Wives, yourselves unto your OWN husbands, AS UNTO the Lord.”

Now, even the two verses together are not a sentence because verse 21 is an adverbial CLAUSE of the CONTEXT that precedes this adverbial clause of ALL believers submitting to EACH OTHER. The CONTEXT is about EVERY member of the body of Christ submitting to EACH OTHER. But to avoid any questionable issues between men and women Paul is teaching that the WOMEN of the church should learn from their OWN husbands and NOT someone ELSE’S husband. And single women should direct their questions to other Christian women.  And if any women single or married should need to ask questions of a male Christian then they should not be ALONE with the man.

I want you to notice that Paul specifically uses the wording “OWN husbands”. The literal says OWN men which implies walking CIRCUMSPECTLY in the fear of the Lord to not put one’s self in areas of temptation.

Again, the ADDED verb “submit” is WRONGLY taken from the adverbial CLAUSE in verse 21 which says submitting yourselves one to another.

So let us ASSUME that in translating the Greek language that this is allowed which it is not. But let us assume that it is justified to use an adverbial clause as grounds to add the verb “submit” in verse 22. If it were correct to do this then you must use the SAME MEANING of verse 21 which is to submit to EACH OTHER. In other words, The husband must ALSO submit to his WIFE because verse 21 says submitting ONE to ANOTHER. So to get the true meaning of the VERB in the whole passage of Scripture we need to go all the way back to verse 15.

Ephesians 5:15.

“See then that you WALK CIRCUPECTLY, not as fools, but as wise,”

Now, some may wonder why I skipped past verse 18 which says be you being filled with the Holy Spirit? Well, if you examine the structure of Ephesians chapter five you will see that Paul first gives a statement of what to do and then he explains HOW to accomplish that statement of an act or a deed. But yet Paul does not explain HOW to continually be being filled with the Holy Spirit. In fact, verse 18 is a part of the EXPLANATION of verse 15. And that is why I personally believe that the whole CONTEXT of verse 22 is about WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY in the fear of the Lord to not place ourselves in areas of temptation.

Let us now read the WHOLE context of verse 22 by reading all of Ephesians chapter 5. For you see, the translators have WRONGLY translated verse 22 as a new sentence which misleads readers to incorrectly believe that Paul is introducing a new subject. I will add my comments to show each NEW statement that is followed by the Apostle Paul’s instructions on how to accomplish the task of each statement.

Ephesians 5:1-33.

“Be you, therefore. followers of God, as dear children; (This is the first statement which is to be FOLLOWERS of God as children would follow their parents. This is the MAIN subject of the whole context which can be broken down into smaller statements. And in truth, the word “THEREFORE” teaches us that even verse 1 is connected to the CONTEXT that comes before it. I believe that the context goes back to no less than Ephesians 4:27 which says “Neither give PLACE to the devil.” In other words, WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY in the Lord as you follow God as dear children. With that being said, then the next three verses are the main instructions to this main statement) 

2.  And walk in LOVE, AS Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (In other words, does the Bible teach us that the WOMEN are the ONLY ones to walk in LOVE? Does the Bible teach us that WIVES are the only ones to walk in love? NO! Absolutely not! We are ALL to walk in love ONE toward another AS Jesus loves us. In fact, Jesus teaches us to NOT lord over each other. Jesus teaches us to esteem OTHER above ourselves. Paul goes on to teach us HOW to follow God and to not give PLACE to the devil)

3.  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 

4.  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

5.  For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

6.  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (This is the second statement which is a warning to NOT be DECEIVED into becoming a doer of unclean works listed above. The CONTEXT is still the SAME which is to follow God as dear children to not give PLACE to the devil)

7.  Be not you, therefore, partakers with them. (By being DECEIVED to follow after their works of darkness that give PLACE to the devil)

8.  For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: WALK as children of light: (Again, the CONTEXT is the SAME all the way through which is to NOT give PLACE to the devil)

9.  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

10.  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

11.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, (This is the third statement. And as you can see in the following verse that the main CONTEXT is the SAME which is to follow God as dear children to NOT give PLACE to the devil) but rather reprove them. 

12.  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 

13.  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever does make manifest is light. 

14.  Wherefore, he says, Awake you that sleep and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. 

15.  See then that you WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, (And this is the fourth statement) not as fools, but as wise, 

16.  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

17.  Wherefore, be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (The following verses explain HOW to WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY in the Lord to NOT obey the works of darkness and thus NOT give PLACE to the devil to follow God as dear children)

18.  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; BUT be filled with the Spirit; (Which literally means to be you continually being filled over and over with the Holy Spirit) 

19.  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (In other words, be you continually stirring up the gift of the Holy Spirit within you to maintain the JOY of the Lord in your heart to sing spiritual songs unto to Lord in your daily WALK with God and his Son Jesus)

20.  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Verse 20 is an adverbial clause connected to the above context) 

21.  Submitting yourselves ONE to ANOTHER in the fear of God. (To NOT give PLACE to the devil by waling CIRCUMSPECTLY ONE to ANOTHER or to EACH OTHER. Also, Verse 21 is an adverbial clause connected to the above context)

22.  Wives, yourselves unto your OWN husbands, AS UNTO unto the Lord. (Or more precisely, women WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY with your OWN husbands AS UNTO the Lord to NOT give PLACE to the DEVIL. I intentionally left the verb “SUBMIT” out because it is NOT in the original Greek text. And verses 16-22 are ALL adverbial clauses connected to verse 15 and the verb to WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY in order to accomplish the instruction in verse 1 to FOLLOW God as dear children so that we do NOT give PLACE to the devil)

23.  For (Or BECAUSE) the husband is the head of the WIFE, EVEN AS Christ is the HEAD of the church: and HE is the savior of the BODY. 

24.  THEREFORE, (Or for the very reason that) AS the church is SUBJECT unto Christ, so let the wives be to their OWN husbands in everything. (Again, please understand that in SUBMITTING we are to submit to EACH OTHER as BOTH men and women are instructed to do in verse 21 according to the CONTEXT before verse 22. And the CONTEXT goes on to say after verse 22 that the husband must LOVE their wife EVEN AS Jesus loves to church and SACRIFICED himself for all of mankind)

25.  Husbands, LOVE your wives, EVEN AS Christ ALSO loved the church, and GAVE himself for it; 

26.  That HE might sanctify and cleanse IT with the washing of water by the word, (In other words, we are ALL to SUBMIT ourselves to the WORD of Almighty God himself which Yahweh commanded Jesus to teach his church. This entire passage of Scripture has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the husband having authority to lord OVER their wives. In fact, the Apostle Paul is teaching us the EXACT OPPOSITE. Read verse 25 again. “Husbands, LOVE your wives, EVEN AS Christ ALSO loved the church, and GAVE himself for it;” It is the husband who must be the servant to his wife as well as the wife serving the husband and EVERY Christian serving each other in the Lord)

27.  That HE (Jesus) might present it (The church) to himself a GLORIOUS church, not having a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

28.  So ought MEN to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. 

29.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, EVEN AS the Lord the church: 

30.  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (WOMEN INCLUDED)

31.  For this cause, shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

32.  This is a great mystery: but I speak CONCERNING Christ and the church. (As being ONE body with Jesus as the HEAD of the body which is the church)

33.  Nevertheless, let every one of you (MEN) in particular so love his wife EVEN AS himself; and the wife, see that she REVERENCE her husband.”

The word reverence means to treat respectfully. And this includes a NON-believing husband because the wife of an unsaved husband can WIN her unbelieving husband by her walking in LOVE CIRCUMSPECTLY in the Lord toward your husband.

Now, walking circumspectly toward your husband does NOT mean BLIND submission to obey your husband’s every command. The Scripture says IN the Lord and AS UNTO the Lord. In other words, the husband is NOT to follow an ungodly wife and neither is the wife to follow an ungodly husband. To say this another way, a Christian husband of an unsaved wife is NOT to be deceived by his wife to walk in darkness to give PLACE to the devil. And a Christian wife of an unsaved husband is NOT to ignorantly OBEY her husband to walk in darkness to give PLACE to the devil.

Again, walking circumspectly IN the Lord means for ALL Christians to submit to EACH OTHER to follow God as dear children in order to NOT give PLACE to the devil which is the MAIN subject of the whole CONTEXT. The husband is to HUMBLE himself to listen to his GODLY wife and the wife is to humble herself to listen to her GODLY husband the SAME as ALL Christians are to humble themselves to listen to GODLY Christians. So the SUBMITTING, when interpreted CORRECTLY by the entire CONTEXT, is speaking about submitting to correct SOUND Biblical GODLY teaching of God’s WORD and NOT about just the WIFE ONLY blindly OBEYING her husbands every command.

The ONLY reason why Paul points out that women are to submit to their OWN husbands is to AVOID any undesired discretions that could arise if a married woman were to submit herself under the teaching of another woman’s husband which could give PLACE to the devil even IF there would be NOTHING going on between the man and the woman. For you see, GOSSIP, idle talking, and spreading RUMORS gives PLACE to the devil. And that, to me, is the TRUE sound Biblical meaning of Ephesians 5:22.

In fact, to ME, the job of the HUSBAND is to lay down his LIFE for his wife. So, to me, some Christian men are reading INTO the verb “SUBMIT” in Ephesians 5:22 that their wives MUST OBEY every word their husband says or their wives will be sinning for disobeying their husbands. And their interpreting verse 22 as their wives being their SLAVES directly CONTRACTS ALL the verses that follow verse 22. And some churches use Ephesians 5:22 along with a few other verses to create the FALSE teaching that ALL women are basically the PROPERTY of MEN and they wrongly FORBID women to teach the word of God in the church. They demand that the women wear head coverings and to be SILENT in the church.

So, if you are in that kind of church or you have been taught that women must keep silent in the church whether you are a man or a woman, I implore you to read ALL the studies under the heading >>>CAN WOMEN BE PASTORS?<<<

Now, some of you may be thinking to yourself that the word “SUBMIT” and to be SUBJECT” means to OBEY. And while it is true that the wife is to obey her husband it is ALSO equally true that the husband is to obey his wife. In fact, according to the context, each and every Christian is to OBEY each other. So when you truly consider the CONTEXT, the Apostle Paul is NOT teaching that the wife must obey her husband's every command. For you see, if that were true then Paul is teaching us that we must OBEY what other Christians command us to do. And that would be lording OVER each other. For example, if I commanded you to wash my car would you OBEY me? If I quoted verse 21 that we MUST submit to each other and I need my car washed would you obey me? NO! Absolutely not! You would tell me that I am taking that verse OUT of its CONTEXT. And what about women who have unsaved husbands? Are they to obey their husband when he commands them to do UNGODLY things? Again, absolutely not! So the context is teaching us to submit to the TEACHING of the word of Almighty God so that we walk circumspectly to follow God as dear children in order to NOT give PLACE to the devil.

And if you understand the culture of that day in the pagan city of Ephesus and that this teaching was specifically written to the church at Ephesus then you can see that the Apostle Paul was CORRECTING a PROBLEM at the church in Ephesus. You see, the culture or the society in the city of Ephesus worshipped WOMEN deities. And in that pagan society women were equal to men. And in their pagan worship, the women were the LEADERS who told the MEN what to do. So when these pagan women LEADERS in their pagan worship became Christians, they carried their “culture” over into Christianity to continue to lord OVER the MEN. And Paul is simply teaching the women in Ephesus and other pagan cities that IN the LORD we ALL SUBMIT to EACH OTHER as unto the Lord in the church. And even at home BOTH the wife and the husband is to LOVE one another as unto the Lord.

Again, please read all the studies under the heading >>>CAN WOMEN BE PASTORS?<<< Also, here is a link to a video teaching that I came across in my research on the role of women in the church. It is titled Women in leadership! Must women keep silent? And here is another video showing how women are faced with choosing God over their families misguided beliefs and, therefore, they are faced with LOSING their family. Twisted Scripture - 1 Timothy 2:12. And below are some more video teachings by others.

For you see, the Bible will never CONTRADICT itself and the Bible also teaches us that God USED many women to teach and preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. God uses women to TEACH in the church, to PREACH in the church, to PROPHESY in the church, to speak in other tongues in the church, to give the interpretation of other tongues in the church, to be ELDERS in the church, to be deacons in the church, to be pastors in the church, and even to be APOSTLES in the church.

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

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