Household Life in the Church - Week 9

Ephesians 5:21-6:9

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Wives and Husbands

Read Ephesians 5:21-33

1. Read verse 21. Why is it significant that this verse precedes all the others in this section of the epistle? Who is to be subject to whom? For what reason?
(a) The significance of this verse preceding the others in this section is that the subsequent verses are to be taken in light of this verse. (b) Everyone is to be subject to one another. (c) The reasen is "out of reverence for Christ.

2. Read verse 22. On what basis are wives to be subject to their husbands (see Points to Ponder)?
(a) Wives are to suject to their husbands "as to the Lord". This implies that wives are not to blindly heed every command from their husband, but to discern as to whether it is in accord with God's commandments.

3. Read verse 23. What significance does Paul see in the "headship" of husbands as it relates to the headship of Christ?
(a) The significance of the "headship" of the husband as it relates to the headship of Christ is that this underscores the intimate relationship between husband and wife. As we, the Church, are the Body of Christ, so husbands and wives are one flesh.

4. Read verse 24. What does the submission of wives to husbands image, according to Paul? Is Christ's marriage to the Church a copy of human marriage or is human marriage is shadowy copy of the marriage of Christ and the Bride?
(a) The image Paul calls upon to model submission of wives to husband is the relationship between Christ and His Church. (b) The "marriage" of Christ and His Church is the perfect model that marriage between husband and wife should emulate. The Church glorifies God just as a wife should glorify her husband. Conversely, Christ sacrficed himself for the Church just as a husband should sacrifice himself for his wife.

5. Read verse 25. What is the model that a husband is to imitate? Does this suggest domination or self sacrifice for the good of the family? How did Christ "give himself up" for his Bride?
(a) The love a husband has for his wife should imitate the love Christ has for His Church. (b) This suggests self-sacrifice on the part of the husband for the good of the family. (c) Christ ultimately sacrificed Himself, by supreme suffering and death, for His bride, the Church.

6. Read verse 26. What sacrament does this recall?
(a) This recalls the Sacrament of Baptism.

7. Read verse 27. What are the effects of that sacrament, according to this verse? How does this imagery also relate to Jewish bridal practices of the time (see Points to Ponder)?
(a) The effect of the Sacrament of Baptism is to remove any "spot or wrinkle" and as such be "holy and without blemish". (b) This relates to the Jewish bridal practice of the bride of bathing and adorning herself prior to being presented to her husband. This practice is alluded to in Ezekial:

"When I passed by you again and looked upon you, behold, you were at the age for love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yea, I plighted my troth to you and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with leather, I swathed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I decked you with ornaments, and put bracelets on your arms, and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered cloth; you ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful, and came to regal estate. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor which I had bestowed upon you, says the Lord GOD (Ez 16:8-14, RSV)

8. Read verse 28. How does this passage relate to Genesis 2:21-23, John 19:34; and 1 John 5:6-8 (see Points to Ponder)?
(a) Let us review the pertinent passages:

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (Gen 2:21-23 ,RSV)

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (John 19:34 ,RSV)

This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. (1 John 5:6-8 ,RSV)

The first verse shows that man and woman are unified in marriage. The second and third verses show that it was the shedding of Christ's blood and the sanctifying effect of Baptism that brings us into unity with Christ.

9. Read verses 29-30. How does this passage relate to the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ (see Points to Ponder)?
(a) By giving us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, Christ makes the Church His own flesh.

10. Read verse 31-32. Where is this quote from? Is Paul's mind primarily on earthly marriage or does he see in earthly marriage an image of something greater? What is that "something greater"?
(a) This quote is from Genesis:

Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Gen 2:24, RSV)

(b) In earthly marriage Paul sees something greater. (c) The mystery is how earthly marriage is emulate the marriage of Christ and His Church. From the Points to Ponder:

Paul views marriage in light of Christ's relationship with the Church. Three aspects of Church teaching about marriage are highlighted as a result:

1) the indissolubility of marriage, because of Christ's permanent fidelity to the Church;

2) the sacramentality of marriage, since earthly marriage is, as Paul says, a living sign pointing to Christ's love for the Church; and

3) the reciprocity of marriage, since the Church is subject to Christ as her head just as the Bridegroom offers up his life for the sake of the Bride.

11. Read verse 33. How does Paul summarize the way in which Christian husbands and wives are to love each other as Christ and the Bride love each other?
(a) Paul summarizes this teaching as follows:

"let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Eph 5:33, RSV)

Children and Parents

Read Ephesians 6:1-4

12. Read verse 1. What is the reason Paul gives for children's obedience to their parents? What qualification is put on obedience to parents?
(a) Paul states that obedience by children towards their parents is the right thing to do. (b) The qualification is that this obedience be done "in the Lord". In other words, as long as obedience to the parents does not contradict God's laws.

13. Read verse 2. To what does Paul appeal as his authority for teaching this? What does Paul note about this commandment?
(a) Paul appeals to the authority of God for this teaching. (b) Paul notes that this commandment is only one "with a promise".

14. Read verse 3. What is the promise? What is the implied warning of the commandment?
(a) The promis is long life. (b) The implied warning is death.

15. Read verse 4. Who does Paul see as bearing principle responsibility for the upbringing of children? What is the principal thing Paul warns fathers against? What is the difference between discipline and instruction?
(a) Paul sees the fathers as being principally responsible for the upbringing of the children. (b) Paul warns fathers against provoking their children. (c) Instruction is without consequence. Disipline provides consequence, either positive or negative.

Slaves and Masters

Read Ephesians 6:5-9

16. Read verse 5-8 In what spirit are slaves to obey their masters? What does "fear and trembling" allude to (see Philippians 2:12-13)? Who are slaves ultimately to see themselves serving? What does Paul imply about the dignity and destiny of slaves in verse 8?
(a) Slaves are to be obedient to their masters in the same spirit as they are to Christ. (b) In Philippians we have the following verses:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13, RSV)

Therefore, when Paul is alluding to working out our "own salvation with fear and trembling". (c) Slaves are ultimately to se themselves as serving the Lord. (d) In verse 8, Paul implies that any good performed by a slave will be repaid to Him by God. This dignifies there work as well as giving them hope of eternal salvation.

17. Read verse 9. What is "the same" that masters are obliged to do? What, according to Paul, is the worth of a master compared to the worth of a slave in the eyes of God?
(a) The "same" refers to "rendering service with a good will as to the Lord". (b) In the eyes of God, master and slave are the same, there is no partiality.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
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