Ephesians 5:22-33*

Note: I have edited the previous post in the light of  Lund (Chiasmus in the New Testament). We had a similar overall pattern but Lund refines the sections in a more precise way. Also the chiasm noted by Nigel in his comment is now incorporated in the larger pattern. 

A. Concerning the wife
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

B. Concerning the husband
a. 23 For the husband is the head
b. of the wife,
c. even as Christ is the head
d. of the church:
e. and he is the saviour of the body.
d’. 24 Therefore as the church
c’. is subject unto Christ,
b’. so let the wives be
a’. to their own husbands in every thing.

C. 25 Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

D. 26 That he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

E. 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church,

D’. not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.

C’. 28 So ought men to love their wives
as their own bodies.

B’. Concerning the husband
a. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
b. even as the Lord the church:
c. 30 For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of  his 
bones.
d. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
 and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
c’. 32 This is a great mystery:
b’. but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
a’. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular
so love his wife even as himself;

A’. Concerning the wife
and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

2 thoughts on “Ephesians 5:22-33*”

  1. There is a chiasm in chapter 5 verses 23 and 24 which emphasizes Christ as the saviour:

    A (23) For THE HUSBAND is the head

    B (23) OF THE WIFE,

    C (23) even as CHRIST is the head

    D (23) OF THE ECCLESIA:

    E (23) AND HE IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE BODY.

    D (24) Therefore as THE ECCLESIA is subject

    C (24) unto CHRIST,

    B (24) so let THE WIVES

    A (24) be to their own HUSBANDS in every thing.

  2. Note:I have edited the previous post in the light of Lund (Chiasmus in the New Testament, republished by University of North Carolina Press, 2012). We had the same broad pattern independently but Lund refines the sections in a more helpful way. Also the chiasm noted by Nigel in his comment is not incorporated into the larger pattern.

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