Is Jesus a "Feminist?"

Ephesians 5:21-33

Mutual Submission

21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wife’s Submission

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Husband’s submission

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (, , , , 28). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (, , , , 28). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

21 aand be subject to one another in the bfear of Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

21 aand be subject to one another in the bfear of Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

be subject to one another in the bfear of Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

A superficial reading of these verses make some people think Jesus is against women. The Feminists read this to mean male domination. The average guy just thinks God is telling him he makes the rules.

A superficial reading of these verses make some people think Jesus is against women. The Feminists read this to mean male domination. The average guy just thinks God is telling him that husbands make the rules.

A superficial reading of these verses make some people think Jesus is against women. The Feminists read this to mean male domination. The average guy just thinks God is telling him he makes the rules.

Wife’s Submission

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

None of this is true.

Verse 5:21 says that we are all to submit to one another. Some Bibles separate this verse from the marriage instructions that follow. This is misleading.

Since structural divisions are made by man and not by God, I feel I can suggest a change. I think that this verse belongs with the verses below it, talking about submission. Not only that, but I think it is a headline and a summary of what follows about submission. (See note below JFB)

Since structural divisions are made by man and not by God, I feel I can suggest a change. I think that this verse belongs with the verses below it, talking about submission. Not only that, but I think it is a headline and a summary of what follows about submission. (See note below JFB)

In v. 22 the words “be subject to” do not appear in the oldest texts. The words "be subject to” are “borrowed” from v.21. This fact implies the connection of v. 21 to the following “submission” verses.

Verse 23 What does the husband’s “headship” over his wife look like? The husband as the head leads his wife in their mutual serving of each other by serving her highest good above his own. He is an example of giving up his desires to meet her needs. A wife will many times gladly submit to someone who truly demonstrates by consistent actions that his top priority is her highest good.

Verse 23 What does the husband’s “headship” over his wife look like? The husband as the head leads his wife in their mutual serving of each other by serving her highest good above his own. He is an example of giving up his desires to meet her needs. A wife will many times gladly submit to someone who truly demonstrates by consistent actions that his top priority is her highest good.

Compare this view to the superficial understanding of “wives submit to your husbands” which the Feminists rightfully reject. (Verse 25) If a husband is giving up his life for his wife where does male domination come in? It is actually just the opposite of male domination. The wife’s needs are the driving force and husband gives up his rights in order to serve those needs with everything he is.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

So how did Jesus demonstrate his headship? Jesus never dominated the church. He never said, "God made me in charge over you so you have to do what I say." He relinquished all his rights to justice and fairness and even life and he did what we the church needed most. He died an excruciating and humiliating death to give us life forever with him. And when he gave up all his rights, he entrusted himself to his Father's care. And the Father raised him from the dead. And gave Jesus a Name above all names.

So how do husbands and wives serve each other’s needs?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she brespects her husband.

A husband has less rights than his wife. A husband is commanded to give up his wants, needs, his everything, and serve the highest good for his wife.

Jesus never dominated the church. He never said, "God made me in charge and over you so you have to do what I say." He relinquished all his rights to justice and fairness and everything else and he did what we the church needed most. He died to take away the church's sins, my sins. And when he gave up all his rights, he entrusted himself to his Father's care. And the Father raised him from the dead. And gave Jesus a Name above all names.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she brespects her husband.

love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she brespects her husband.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she brespects her husband.

33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.a

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' book, Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs is based on v. 33.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' book, Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs is based on v. 33.

My quick synopsis of the book is: Men need unconditional respect, women need unconditional love. If either is missing the "Crazy Cycle" is born. Women recognize that they deserve "unconditional love." They might not understand men need "unconditional respect." A woman who gives her husband "unconditional respect" will see him flourish. Otherwise, he will wither. A husband who gives his wife unconditional love will see her flourish. Otherwise, he will see her wither.

The Crazy Cycle - When the spouse does not get what they need (either love or respect) they respond in a way to the other that the other interprets as further not meeting their needs. And on and on it goes.

So “is Jesus a Feminist?”

Jesus is just as concerned as Feminists that women aren’t dominated by men. In fact, Jesus ONLY gives husbands the authority to serve the best interests of his wife, not to dominate her.