Ephesians 5:21 - Feminist Interpretation

Feminist Interpretation

The verse is the first verse in the subsection of Ephesians 5:21-33. It commands all husbands to submit to their wives and wives to submit to their husbands. It turns the idea of female submission on its head by demanding that husbands must likewise view their wives as authoritative, intelligent and equal partners in marriage. They believe it belongs in the context of Ephesians 5:21-33 for the following reasons by evaluating the structure of the chapter:

• V21 speaks of submission like vv22-33 but unlike vv1-20.
• V21 speaks of Christ as motivation like vv22-33 but unlike vv1-20.
• V21 speaks of behavior towards others like vv22-33 but unlike vv1-20.
• V20 makes a better concluding statement about vv1-19 but v22 does not make a good introductory statement for vv23-33.

They also believe that the Bible no where else teaches the authority of husbands over their wives and therefore interpreting the verse in feminism is consistent with the rest of the scripture.