Sword & Trowel 2020: Issue 1 


Dare we say, the headship of the husband in marriage is an earned headship. No, people say, it is not. It is by divine right, and in a sense that is true. But if it is like the headship of Christ over the church, which is by divine right, it is at the same time an earned headship. The husband should earn and deserve the love, respect and godly subordination of his wife. The apostle also says that the hus- band ‘is the saviour of the body’. It is difficult to be precise about what is meant here but the most likely sense is this – Christ is the Lord and Saviour of the soul, and the husband is the ‘saviour’ of the body, responsible for the health and earthly happiness and joy and peace of his wife. He must ensure she receives proper human


enjoyment and liberties, her access to Christian service and the privileges which are hers in her earthly pilgrim- age.


The phrase, ‘Therefore as the


church is subject unto Christ’ is also challenging to husbands. How are we subject unto Christ? We are full of admiration for him and gratitude to him. Do wives have grounds to be filled with admiration for and grati- tude to their husbands? If there is not enough here to chal- lenge the husband, then the apostle Paul turns the searchlight full on the husband in verse 25, ‘Husbands, love your wives.’ Here is all the affec- tion and warmth, and that must be expressed. Then the added reference to Christ’s love – ‘Even as Christ also


some Tabernacle families with younger children in two of the ‘conference-holidays’ held in August 2019 at Dinas Powys, South Wales.


Above, a group of over 100 young adults from the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and below,


page 12


Biblical Roles of Men and Women


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