Posted June 3, 2005

By M. Roberts

   Feminists have maligned Christianity for years as a religion that seeks to oppress women. Lashing out against the supposed oppressive, patriarchal tyranny of the Christian church, they accuse Christian men of oppressing their wives based on the text of Ephesians 2:22-23 (NAS), which reads as follows: 

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

The example that the Apostle Paul uses in Ephesians to illustrate the role of a husband is Christ himself, who is the head of the Church as the husband is to be the “head” of his wife. The Biblical text does not portray Jesus as a domineering, oppressive leader over the Church. Neither is a husband to ever conduct himself in such a way. The Bible paints a very clear picture of the type of leader that Jesus was on earth. In Jewish society, there was no humbler task then washing a man’s feet, yet the Bible describes Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, on his hands and knees doing this for Peter. Clearly, the role of a husband as the “head” is to be a humble servant. Jesus was flogged viciously, then executed in one of the most brutal fashions ever devised so that an undeserving humanity could spend eternity with him. Clearly, the role of a husband as the “head” includes self-sacrifice and putting the needs of his wife before those of himself. When feminists cite Ephesians 2:22-23 as evidence that Christian husbands are supposed to oppress their wives, they always conveniently leave out Ephesians 2:25 (NAS): 

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

The ultimate example of love is Jesus, who loved the church so much that He gave up even His life for it. Husbands are to love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the Church. The husband’s service in the role of the "head" does not mean that he is to be a military commander in his own home, barking orders and demanding subservience. The husband who honors and brings glory to God is one who acts as a servant-leader, loving his wife, honoring her, and placing her needs before his own. 

-MR