Husbands Love
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The concept of "Husbands Love" is deeply rooted in the Christian Scriptures, particularly within the New Testament, where the apostle Paul provides explicit instructions regarding the role and responsibilities of husbands within the marital relationship. This entry explores the biblical foundation and theological implications of a husband's love for his wife, as outlined in the Bible.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural reference for understanding the love of a husband is found in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 5:25-28 , Paul writes, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

This passage sets a high standard for marital love, equating it with the sacrificial and selfless love that Christ has for the Church. The husband's love is to be characterized by self-giving, nurturing, and a commitment to the spiritual and personal well-being of his wife.

Theological Implications

1. Sacrificial Love: The comparison to Christ's love for the Church emphasizes the sacrificial nature of a husband's love. Just as Christ gave Himself for the Church, husbands are called to prioritize their wives' needs and well-being above their own desires. This sacrificial love is not merely emotional but is demonstrated through actions and decisions that reflect a commitment to the wife's best interests.

2. Sanctifying Love: The husband's love is also described as sanctifying, mirroring Christ's role in sanctifying the Church. This implies that a husband's love should contribute to his wife's spiritual growth and holiness. By leading in a manner that reflects Christ's love, a husband plays a crucial role in fostering an environment where his wife can flourish spiritually.

3. Nurturing Love: The analogy of loving one's wife as one's own body suggests a nurturing and caring aspect of love. Just as individuals naturally care for their own bodies, husbands are called to provide for and protect their wives, ensuring their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

4. Unity and Oneness: The biblical model of marriage emphasizes unity and oneness, as seen in Genesis 2:24 , "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." The husband's love is integral to this unity, fostering a partnership that reflects the divine intention for marriage.

Practical Application

The biblical mandate for husbands to love their wives is not limited to theoretical or theological understanding but extends to practical application in daily life. This includes:

· Communication: Open and honest communication is essential for understanding and meeting the needs of one's wife. A loving husband listens actively and speaks with kindness and respect.

· Service: Acts of service, both small and large, demonstrate love in tangible ways. Whether through helping with household tasks or supporting his wife's endeavors, a husband shows love through service.

· Encouragement: A loving husband encourages his wife, affirming her value and supporting her in her personal and spiritual growth.

· Faithfulness: Fidelity in thought, word, and deed is a cornerstone of marital love. A husband demonstrates love by remaining faithful and committed to his wife alone.

In summary, the biblical concept of "Husbands Love" is a profound and multifaceted calling that reflects the love of Christ for the Church. It encompasses sacrificial, sanctifying, nurturing, and unifying elements, all of which contribute to a thriving and God-honoring marriage.
Topical Bible Verses
Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
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Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
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Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.
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Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
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1 Peter 3:7
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.
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Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
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Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
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Ephesians 5:31
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
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1 Peter 3:1
Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
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Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
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Greek
5362. philandros -- loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
... Word Origin from philos and aner Definition loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
NASB Word Usage love their husbands (1). love their husband. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5362.htm - 7k
Library

The Apostle Has Made Known to us Certain Three Unions...
... is, "Let wives be subject unto their own husbands, as unto the Lord; because the
husband is the head of the wife;" [1889] and, "Husbands, love your wives." But ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on continence/section 23 the apostle has.htm

Women as Well as Men, Slaves as Well as Freemen, Candidates for ...
... Husbands, love your wives, as also Christ loved the Church. So ... [2776] Husbands,
love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter viii women as well as.htm

Duties of Husbands, Wives, Parents, and Children.
... Let the husbands love their wives, remembering that, at the creation, one
woman, and not many, was given to one man. Let the wives ...
/.../chapter ix duties of husbands wives.htm

The Duties of Husbands and Wives.
... them. [1091] Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied
with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In ...
/.../chapter v the duties of husbands.htm

Whether Zeal is an Effect of Love?
... But zeal is opposed to communication; since it seems an effect of zeal, that a man
refuses to share the object of his love with another: thus husbands are said ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether zeal is an effect.htm

The Epistle to the Ephesians.
... Lord (5:22). Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself up for it (5:25). This mystery is ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 95 the epistle to.htm

The Teaching of the Apostles in Opposition to Jewish and Gentile ...
... is old." [3329] In like manner, ye husbands, love your own wives as your own members,
as partners in life, and fellow-helpers for the procreation of children. ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec v the teaching of the.htm

The Duties of Husbands and Wives.
... them. Speak to my sisters, that they love in our Lord, and that their husbands
be sufficient for them in the flesh and spirit. Then ...
/.../chapter v the duties of husbands 2.htm

Have but one Eucharist, Etc.
... 908] Husbands, love your wives, as fellow-servants of God, as your own body, as
the partners of your life, and your co-adjutors in the procreation of children. ...
/.../chapter iv have but one eucharist.htm

The Christian Home
... Paul says, "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and
gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25-33; Colossians 3:18,19). ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study x the christian home.htm

Resources
What is Christian domestic discipline (CDD)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be a godly husband? | GotQuestions.org

Do women have to remain silent in church? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Husbands

Husbands Love

Husbands Role

Husbands: Bad: Ahasuerus

Husbands: Bad: Solomon

Husbands: Duties of, not to Interfere With Their Duties to Christ

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: Not to Leave Them, Though Unbelieving

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To be Faithful to Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Comfort Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Consult With Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Dwell With Them for Life

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Love Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Regard Them As Themselves

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Respect Them

Husbands: Good: Elkanah

Husbands: Good: Isaac

Husbands: Have Authority Over Their Wives

Husbands: should Have But One Wife

Unsaved Husbands

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Fulfill (80 Occurrences)

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

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Duty (90 Occurrences)

Kin (18 Occurrences)

Nabal (18 Occurrences)

Refuseth (22 Occurrences)

Refuses (21 Occurrences)

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Perform (155 Occurrences)

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Establish (133 Occurrences)

Widow (71 Occurrences)

Raise (175 Occurrences)

Delight (213 Occurrences)

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Open (586 Occurrences)

Herself (121 Occurrences)

Abroad (120 Occurrences)

Family (438 Occurrences)

Willing (152 Occurrences)

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Na'omi (21 Occurrences)

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Levirate

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Rebekah (31 Occurrences)

Ribbons (1 Occurrence)

Elimelech (6 Occurrences)

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Disalloweth (2 Occurrences)

Doubts (15 Occurrences)

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Marries (20 Occurrences)

Propitious (12 Occurrences)

Prohibition (1 Occurrence)

Pregnant (33 Occurrences)

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Bloody (19 Occurrences)

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Accordingly (34 Occurrences)

Accounts (14 Occurrences)

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Instantly (39 Occurrences)

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Bond (32 Occurrences)

During (182 Occurrences)

Fact (98 Occurrences)

Hush (7 Occurrences)

Pledge (55 Occurrences)

Gate (248 Occurrences)

Doubt (49 Occurrences)

Vow (49 Occurrences)

Stranger (152 Occurrences)

Husband's Brother
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