What other scriptures support the concept of headship in Ephesians 5:23? Ephesians 5:23 as the Starting Point “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.” Headship Modeled by Christ’s Lordship • Colossians 1:18 – “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.” – Christ’s absolute headship over the church is the template for marital headship. • Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily. And you have been made complete in Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – The fullness of Christ’s authority grounds the husband’s delegated role; it is derived, never independent. • 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 – Christ willingly submits to the Father, showing that headship and submission can coexist with equal worth and shared deity. Creation Order and Headship • 1 Corinthians 11:3 – “I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” – Establishes a cascading order: God → Christ → man → woman, explaining the logic behind Ephesians 5:23. • 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 – “For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” – Paul roots headship in the Genesis account, not cultural convention. • Genesis 2:18, 21-24 – Woman formed from man’s side to be “a helper suitable for him,” then joined to him in “one flesh.” – The head–helper pattern predates the Fall and informs the New Testament teaching. • 1 Timothy 2:13-14 – “For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman...” – Again appeals to creation order, reinforcing the design of complementary roles. Practical Outworking in Church and Home • Colossians 3:18-19 – “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Mirrors Ephesians 5, coupling headship with sacrificial love. • 1 Peter 3:1, 5-6 – “Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands... For this is how the holy women of the past who hoped in God adorned themselves, submitting to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham...” – Highlights respectful submission as a display of hope in God, not blind subservience. • Titus 2:3-5 – Older women are to teach younger women “to be subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be maligned.” – Proper ordering in the home safeguards gospel witness. • 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 – “The women are to keep silent in the churches... as the Law also says.” – While addressing corporate worship, Paul again ties role distinctions to Scriptural authority. Balancing Authority with Sacrifice • Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” – Headship is never about tyranny; it is expressed through self-giving love. • Philippians 2:5-8 – Christ, though equal with God, “emptied Himself” and became obedient to death. – The ultimate picture of leading by serving. Key Takeaways – Headship is a divine pattern, rooted in the Trinity and creation, not a cultural artifact. – Scripture consistently pairs headship with sacrificial, Christ-like love, guarding against misuse. – When practiced biblically, headship and submission showcase the gospel in marriage, the church, and the watching world. |
    |