103 gengwall,

Do we agree that Paul’s directions to husbands in Ephesians 5:25-30 are expressly designed to address a fleshly flaw in males brought on by the fall? And the more controversial parallel question: would you agree that Paul has similar motivation and is taking a similar approach in vs. 22-24 in his direction to wives?

I do agree with you about Paul’s direction to husbands that deals with their fleshly flaws. But with the women I have another view. Women had been under their husband’s authority in that culture. This is the way it had always been, but Christianity changed that and gave them their own responsibility to mature and grow and use their own spiritual gifts. As they experienced Christianity, I believe that there is a strong possibility that their freedom in Christ might cause some of the women to despise their husbands. Surely they could submit to serve everyone in the congregation, but their own husbands? Why should she had to minister to him when she was freed from that? I think that Paul is emphasizing that our freedom in Christ should be a cause for us to honor and serve the body of Christ including even those whom we no longer are compelled to serve. So for slaves, they are to serve their brothers in Christ who are also their masters even if they get their freedom. The injunction to submit one to another isn’t for everyone except for former slaves. And it isn’t for everyone except for husbands. Our love for Christ should make us even more willing to serve with love. But I can understand how women who have become equal in Christ could despise doing things that made them think about their old lives which had no choice for service. Their service was compelled and now it is to be given freely out of love for Christ. I don’t know if that makes sense to you or not.

Therefore, they distrust me and dismiss Paul. I have literally had women tell me that I don’t really believe what I am saying; that Paul was a misogynist plain and simple and anyone who tries to paint him otherwise is either a fool or a liar. And it all stems from this fundamental, pervasive, invasive misunderstanding of “head” and “submit”.

This is very sad. It not only paints men who want to help as being a liar, but it paints the Apostle Paul as a misogynist. I believe that Paul has been misunderstood for so long that he has been wrongly accused of holding back women when his real attitude towards women in ministry was outstanding. I really feel compelled to defend Paul, because I have come to love him and his writings because of my intense study of the hard passages of Paul on women.

I agree with you that Ephesians 5 is key but I also think that there is something else at least in modern times that is key. It is the relationship in the Trinity where hierarchical scholars are saying that in the Trinity the Father has an authority over the Son. They make Jesus out to be eternally in a position of submission and eternally subordinate to the Father. I think that once this error is straightened out it goes a long way to straightening out the false views of women. This is why I spent so long on my portion of our DVD “The Trinity Eternity Past to Eternity Future” on the subordination of the Son. Definitely Ephesians 5 & 1 Cor. 11 “head” in the Trinity are key passages that must be taught properly so that people may become free.