CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ephesians 5:25 Commentaries: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/ephesians/5-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/ephesians/5-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Ephesians 5:25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ephesians/5-24.htm" title="Ephesians 5:24">◄</a> Ephesians 5:25 <a href="../ephesians/5-26.htm" title="Ephesians 5:26">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/ephesians/5.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/ephesians/5.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/ephesians/5.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/ephesians/5.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/ephesians/5.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/ephesians/5.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/ephesians/5.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/ephesians/5.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/ephesians/5.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/ephesians/5.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/5.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/ephesians/5.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/ephesians/5.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/ephesians/5.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/ephesians/5.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/ephesians/5.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/ephesians/5.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/ephesians/5.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/ephesians/5.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/ephesians/5.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/ephesians/5-16.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/ephesians/5.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/ephesians/5.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/ephesians/5.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/ephesians/5.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/ephesians/5.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/ephesians/5.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/ephesians/5.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/ephesians/5.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/ephesians/5.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/ephesians/5.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/ephesians/5.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/ephesians/5.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/ephesians/5.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/5.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/ephesians/5.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/ephesians/5.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/ephesians/5.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/ephesians/5.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/ephesians/5.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) <span class= "bld">Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.</span>—The love of Christ for His Church is such that He counts Himself incomplete without her (<a href="/ephesians/1-23.htm" title="Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.">Ephesians 1:23</a>), and raises her to be one with Himself; that He bears with her weakness and frailty; that He draws her on by the cords of love; and that He gives up Himself for her. Only so far as the husband shows the like love in perfect sympathy, in chivalrous forbearance, in abhorrence of tyranny, in willingness to self-sacrifice, has he any right to claim lordship.<p><span class= "bld">And gave himself for it.</span>—Here, as before, the antitype transcends the type. In the character of our Lord’s sacrifice, as an atonement offered “for” the Church, and in the regenerating and cleansing effect of that sacrifice (see next verse), none can approach Him. The husband may be said to give himself for his wife, but it cannot be in any higher sense than as taking the chief share of the burden, and if possible the pain, of life for her. He may follow Christ in love, and in that alone. Compare St. Paul’s words in <a href="/colossians/1-24.htm" title=" Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:">Colossians 1:24</a>, “I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the Church” (where see Note).<p>(25-27) In these verses we trace, under the nuptial metaphor, a clear description of the three great stages in salvation—justification in His “giving Himself for us, sanctification in the “cleansing by water in the Word,” glorification in the final “presentation” to Christ in glory. The metaphor is certainly preserved in the last two clauses, which correspond to the bath of purification of the bride, and the festal presentation of her (usually by the friend of the bridegroom, <a href="/john/3-29.htm" title="He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.">John 3:29</a>), in all her beauty and adornment, to her husband at his own home; perhaps even in the first also, for the husband used to give a dowry, which was held in the rude simplicity of ancient times to purchase his wife, and here that which Christ gives is the unspeakable price of His own Self. Throughout, in accordance with the whole tenor of the Epistle, it is the Church as a whole, not the individual soul, which is “the Spouse of Christ.”<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/ephesians/5.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm" title="Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;">Ephesians 5:25</a></span>. The apostle now proceeds to speak of the duty of husbands to their wives, the principal of which consists in their loving them, without which they would abuse their power to tyranny and oppression. But how are they to love them? The apostle says, <span class="ital">as Christ loved the church </span>— Namely, with a love that is sincere, pure, ardent, constant, and persevering, and notwithstanding the imperfections and failures that they are chargeable with. The true model this of conjugal affection! with this <span class="ital">kind </span>of love, with this <span class="ital">degree </span>of it, and to this end, should husbands love their wives. Christ loved the church, and gave himself a ransom for it, when it was in a state of slavery and misery; and husbands, if called to it by God, should lay down their lives for their wives. Observe, reader, as the church’s subjection to Christ is proposed as an example to wives, so the love of Christ to his church is proposed as a pattern to husbands: and while such examples are offered to the imitation of both, and so much is required of each of them, neither has reason to complain of the divine injunction. The love which God requires from the husband toward his wife, compensates for that subjection which he demands from her to her husband: and the prescribed subjection of the wife is an abundant return for that love of the husband which God hath made her due. In what follows we are told that the end for which Christ loved the church, was that he might make her holy and save her; therefore, if husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, they must endeavour to promote their faith and piety, must strive to make them wise and holy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/ephesians/5.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>5:22-33 The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin, by those influences of the Holy Spirit, of which baptismal water was the outward sign. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to glory. But those only who are sanctified now, shall be glorified hereafter. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, are spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. It was a kind of type, as having resemblance. There will be failures and defects on both sides, in the present state of human nature, yet this does not alter the relation. All the duties of marriage are included in unity and love. And while we adore and rejoice in the condescending love of Christ, let husbands and wives learn hence their duties to each other. Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects would be avoided.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/ephesians/5.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>Husbands, love your wives - The duty of the wife is to obey; the right of the husband is to command. But the apostle would guard against the abuse of that right by enjoining the manifestation of such a spirit on the husband as would secure obedience on the part of the wife. He proceeds, therefore, to show, that the husband, in all his conversation with the wife, should manifest the same spirit which the Lord Jesus did toward the church; or, in other words, he holds up the conduct of the Redeemer toward the church, as the model for a husband to imitate. If a husband wished a rule that would be short, simple, clear, and efficacious, about the manner in which he should regard and treat his wife, he could not find a better one than that here suggested.<p>Even as Christ loved the church - This was the strongest love that has ever been evinced in this world. It follows, that a husband is in no danger of loving his wife too much, provided she be not loved more than God. We are to make the love which Christ had for the church the model.<p>And gave himself for it - Gave himself to die to redeem it. The meaning here is, that husbands are to imitate the Redeemer in this respect. As he gave himself to suffer on the cross to save the church, so we are to be willing to deny ourselves, and to bear toil and trial, that we may promote the happiness of the wife. It is the duty of the husband to toil for her support; to provide for her needs; to deny himself of rest and ease, if necessary, in order to attend on her in sickness to go before her in danger; to defend her if she is in peril; and to be ready to die to save her Why should he not be? If they are shipwrecked, and there is a single plank on which safety can be secured, should he not be willing to place her on that, and see her safe at all hazards to himself? But there may be more implied in this than that a man is to toil, and even to lay down his life for the welfare of his wife. Christ laid down his life to save the church; and a husband should feel that it should be one great object of his life to promote the salvation of his wife. He is bound so to live as not to interfere with her salvation, but so as to promote it in every way possible. He is to furnish her all the "facilities" that she may need, to enable her to attend on the worship of God; and to throw no obstacles in her way. He is to set her the example; to counsel her if she needs counsel, and to make the path of salvation as easy for her as possible. If a husband has the spirit and self-denial of the Saviour, he will regard no sacrifice too great if he may promote the salvation of his family. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/ephesians/5.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>25. "Thou hast seen the measure of obedience; now hear also the measure of love. Do you wish your wife to obey you, as the Church is to obey Christ? Then have a solicitude for her as Christ had for the Church (Eph 5:23, "Himself the Saviour of the body"); and "if it be necessary to give thy life for her, or to be cut in ten thousand pieces, or to endure any other suffering whatever, do not refuse it; and if you suffer thus, not even so do you do what Christ has done; for you indeed do so being already united to her, but He did so for one that treated Him with aversion and hatred. As, therefore, He brought to His feet one that so treated Him, and that even wantonly spurned Him, by much tenderness of regard, not by threats, insults, and terror: so also do you act towards your wife, and though you see her disdainful and wantonly wayward, you will be able to bring her to your feet by much thoughtfulness for her, by love, by kindness. For no bound is more sovereign in binding than such bonds, especially in the case of husband and wife. For one may constrain a servant by fear, though not even he is so to be bound to you; for he may readily run away. But the companion of your life, the mother of your children, the basis of all your joy, you ought to bind to you, not by fear and threats, but by love and attachment" [Chrysostom].<p>gave himself—Greek, "gave Himself up."<p>for it—Translate, "for her." The relation of the Church to Christ is the ground of Christianity's having raised woman to her due place in the social scale, from which she was, and is, excluded in heathen lands.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/ephesians/5.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, </span> viz. with a sincere, pure, ardent, and constant affection. As they resemble Christ in the honour they have of being the heads of their wives, so they must likewise in performing the duty of loving them, under which all matrimonial duties are comprehended. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">And gave himself for it; </span> whereby he testified the greatness of his love. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/ephesians/5.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Husbands, love your wives,.... Which consists in a strong and cordial affection for them; in a real delight and pleasure in them; in showing respect, and doing honour to them; in seeking their contentment, satisfaction, and pleasure; in a quiet, constant, and comfortable dwelling with them; in providing all things necessary for them; in protecting them from all injuries and abuses; in concealing their faults, and covering their infirmities; in entertaining the best opinion of their persons and actions; and in endeavouring to promote their spiritual good and welfare: this love ought to be hearty and sincere, and not feigned and selfish; it should be shown in private, as well as in public: it should be chaste and single, constant and perpetual; it should exceed that which is bore to neighbours, or even to parents, and should be equal to that a man bears to himself; though not so as to hinder, and break in upon love to God and Christ: many are the reasons why husbands should love their wives; they are given to be helps unto them; they are companions of them; they are wives of covenant; they are their own wives, yea, their own bodies, their own flesh, nay, as themselves; they are their image and their glory; and especially the example of Christ, in his love to his church and people, should engage to it: <p>even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: See Gill on <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a>; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "his own church"; his bride and spouse, whom he betrothed to himself from all eternity, the Father having given her to him; and is no other than the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, even all the elect of God. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/ephesians/5.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2"><span class="cverse3">{12}</span> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;</span><p>(12) The husbands duty towards their wives is to love them as themselves, of which love the love of Christ towards his Church is a graphic image.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/ephesians/5.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm" title="Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;">Ephesians 5:25</a>. If the duty of the wives was <span class="greekheb">ὑποτάσσεσθαι τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ</span>, that of the husband is: <span class="greekheb">ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας</span>, <span class="greekheb">καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>., a love, therefore, which is ready to undergo even death out of affection for the wife. “Si omnia rhetorum argumenta in unum conjicias, non tam persuaseris conjugibus dilectionem mutuam, quam hic Paulus,” Bugenhagen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδ</span>. <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>.] A practical proof of the <span class="greekheb">ἠγάπησε</span>. Comp. <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm" title="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 sweet smelling smell.">Ephesians 5:2</a>. <span class="ital">What</span> giving up is meant (namely, that <span class="ital">unto death</span>) is obvious of itself here, where no definition is added to <span class="greekheb">παρέδ</span>.; <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm" title="I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.">Galatians 2:20</a>; <a href="/romans/4-25.htm" title="Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.">Romans 4:25</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/ephesians/5.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm" title="Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;">Ephesians 5:25</a>. <span class="greekheb">οἱ ἄνδρες</span>, <span class="greekheb">ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας</span> [<span class="greekheb">ἑαυτῶν</span>], <span class="greekheb">καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν</span>: <span class="ital">husbands, love your wives, even as also Christ loved the Church</span>. The reflexive <span class="greekheb">ἑαυτῶν</span> introduced by the TR after <span class="greekheb">γυναῖκας</span>, as in [641] [642] [643], Syr., etc., is not found in [644] [645] [646], 17, Clem., etc., and is properly omitted by LTTr WRV. The reading <span class="greekheb">ὑμῶν</span> also occurs in [647]. We have now the statement of the corresponding duty of husbands. If the wife’s duty is submission, the husband’s is love—a love like Christ’s—a love capable even of suffering and dying for the wife as Christ did for the Church.—<span class="greekheb">καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς</span>: <span class="ital">and gave Himself up for it</span>. <span class="greekheb">παρέδωκεν</span>, as in <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm" title="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 sweet smelling smell.">Ephesians 5:2</a>, <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm" title="I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.">Galatians 2:20</a> (<span class="greekheb">παραδόντος ἑαυτόν</span>), <a href="/romans/4-25.htm" title="Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.">Romans 4:25</a> (<span class="greekheb">παρεδόθη</span>), without explanation of that to which He gave Himself; that being understood to be <span class="ital">death</span>. This is the measure, therefore, of Christ’s love, and this is the manner of love with which the husband is to meet the wife’s obedience.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[641] Codex Claromontanus (sæc. vi.), a Græco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[642] Codex Mosquensis (sæc. ix.), edited by Matthæi in 1782.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[643] Codex Angelicus (sæc. ix.), at Rome, collated by Tischendorf and others.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[644] Codex Vaticanus (sæc. iv.), published in photographic facsimile in 1889 under the care of the Abbate Cozza-Luzi.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[645] Codex Sinaiticus (sæc. iv.), now at St. Petersburg, published in facsimile type by its discoverer, Tischendorf, in 1862.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[646] Codex Alexandrinus (sæc. v.), at the British Museum, published in photographic facsimile by Sir E. M. Thompson (1879).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[647] Codex Boernerianus (sæc. ix.), a Græco-Latin MS., at Dresden, edited by Matthæi in 1791. Written by an Irish scribe, it once formed part of the same volume as Codex Sangallensis (<span class="greekheb">δ</span>) of the Gospels. The Latin text, g, is based on the O.L. translation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/ephesians/5.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">25</span>. <span class="ital">Husbands</span>] Here the instruction is equally precise and more full. Cp. <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm" title="Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.">1 Peter 3:7</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">love</span>] “in deed and in truth” (<a href="/1_john/3-18.htm" title="My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.">1 John 3:18</a>), “giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Pet., quoted above). Monod well says that the Apostle, true to the spirit of the Gospel, speaks to the wife of the authority of the husband, to the husband of devotion to the wife: each party is reminded not of rights, but of duties.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">even as Christ</span>] What a standard for the man’s conjugal love, in point of elevation, holiness, and self-sacrifice! “In Christian domestic life, Jesus Christ is at once the starting point and the goal of everything … We may even say that domestic life is the triumph of the Christian faith” (Monod).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">loved the church</span>, &c.] Cp. the same words of the individual soul, <a href="/galatians/2-10.htm" title="Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.">Galatians 2:10</a>, “Who loved <span class="ital">me</span> and gave Himself for <span class="ital">me</span>.” The two places are in deepest harmony. Cp. also above, <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm" title="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 sweet smelling smell.">Ephesians 5:2</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>“<span class="ital">Loved:</span>”—in the pre-mundane view and grace indicated <span class="ital">e.g.</span> <a href="/context/ephesians/1-3.htm" title="Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:...">Ephesians 1:3-7</a>. Cp. <a href="/2_timothy/1-9.htm" title="Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,">2 Timothy 1:9</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">gave</span>] Lit. (and so <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm" title="I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.">Galatians 2:20</a>), <span class="bld">gave over, delivered up</span>, to suffering and death. The same word is used <span class="ital">e.g.</span> <a href="/romans/4-25.htm" title="Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.">Romans 4:25</a>; <a href="/romans/8-32.htm" title="He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?">Romans 8:32</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">himself</span>] The supreme Ransom-gift. Cp. <a href="/titus/2-14.htm" title="Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.">Titus 2:14</a> (where the Gr. verb is simply “<span class="ital">gave.</span>”)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">for it</span>] Better, in this vivid context, <span class="bld">for her</span>.—On the preposition, see above on <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm" title="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 sweet smelling smell.">Ephesians 5:2</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/ephesians/5.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm" title="Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;">Ephesians 5:25</a>. <span class="greekheb">Ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν</span>, <span class="ital">gave Himself up</span>) from love to the Church.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 25.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for her.</span> The husband's duty to the wife is enforced by another parallel - it ought to correspond to Christ's love for the Church. This parallel restores the balance; if it should seem hard for the wife to be in subjection, the spirit of love, Christ-like love, on the part of the husband makes the duty easy. Christ did not merely pity the Church, or merely desire her good, but loved her; her image was stamped on his heart and her name graven on his hands; he desired to have her for his companion, longing for a return of her affection, for the establishment of sympathy between her and him. And he gave himself for her (comp. ver. 2), showing that her happiness and welfare were dearer to him than his own - the true test of deep, real love. Ephesians 5:25<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../ephesians/5-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ephesians 5:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ephesians 5:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ephesians/5-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ephesians 5:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ephesians 5:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>