NN

To Cheryl (comment # 29)

To reiterate – we are agreed that Christ (in human form) had authority and that Christ now has authority – in fact All authority (irregardless of its origin).

You argue that Christ gave up said authority to be the Bridegroom. But both during His time on earth and now, He has authority. Therefore, your argument that Christ gave up His authority to be the Church’s Bridegroom CANNOT logically be correct.

Furthermore, in Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul explicitly relates the proper mutual interaction of husband and wife as a parallel of Christ and His bride the Church. As such, the idea of authority is implicit within the construction of this passage. Just as Christ’s sacrifice was not of His authority – but of His very life. So too are husbands called to love their wives and give themselves for them. Even so as we are told to obey the authority of Christ, wives are told to submit to their husbands – “even as to the Lord.” Not because it is exacted by Christ (or the husband) but because it is right and proper to God’s ordination of the relationship.