Eph 5:28-33 | RWP | e4.org | Even so ought ( ουτως οφειλουσιν ). As Christ loves the church (his body). And yet some people actually say that Paul in gives a degrading view of marriage. How can one say that after reading where the noblest picture of marriage ever drawn is given?

‏ Ephesians 5:28-33

Even so ought ( ουτως οφειλουσιν ). As Christ loves the church (his body). And yet some people actually say that Paul in 1Co 7 gives a degrading view of marriage. How can one say that after reading Eph 5:22-33 where the noblest picture of marriage ever drawn is given?

Nourisheth ( εκτρεφε ). Old compound with perfective sense of εκ (to nourish up to maturity and on). In N.T. only here and 6:4.

Cherisheth ( θαλπε ). Late and rare word, once in a marriage contract in a papyrus. In N.T. only here and 1Th 2:7. Primarily it means to warm (Latin foveo), then to foster with tender care as here.

Even as Christ also ( καθως κα ο Χριστος ). Relative (correlative) adverb pointing back to ουτως at the beginning of the sentence (verse 28) and repeating the statement in verse 25.

Of his flesh and of his bones ( εκ της σαρκος αυτου κα εκ των οστεων αυτου ). These words are in the Textus Receptus (Authorized Version) supported by D G L P cursives Syriac, etc., though wanting in Aleph A B 17 Bohairic. Certainly not genuine.

For this cause ( αντ τουτου ). "Answering to this" = ενεκεν τουτου of Ge 2:24, in the sense of αντ seen in ανθ' ων (Lu 12:3). This whole verse is a practical quotation and application of the language to Paul's argument here. In Mt 19:5 Jesus quotes Ge 2:24. It seems absurd to make Paul mean Christ here by ανθρωπος (man) as some commentators do.

This mystery is great ( το μυστηριον τουτο μεγα εστιν ). For the word "mystery" see 1:9. Clearly Paul means to say that the comparison of marriage to the union of Christ and the church is the mystery. He makes that plain by the next words.

But I speak ( εγω δε λεγω ). "Now I mean." Cf. 1Co 7:29; 15:50.

In regard of Christ and of the church ( εις Χριστον κα [εισ] την εκκλησιαν ). "With reference to Christ and the church." That is all that εις here means.

Nevertheless ( πλην ). "Howbeit," not to dwell unduly (Abbott) on the matter of Christ and the church.

Do ye also severally love ( κα υμεις ο καθ' ενα εκαστος αγαπατω ). An unusual idiom. The verb αγαπατω (present active imperative) agrees with εκαστος and so is third singular instead of αγαπατε (second plural) like υμεις. The use of ο καθ' ενα after υμεις = " ye one by one " and then εκαστος takes up (individualizes) the "one" in partitive apposition and in the third person.

Let the wife see that she fear ( η γυνη ινα φοβητα ). There is no verb in the Greek for "let see" ( βλεπετω ). For this use of ινα with the subjunctive as a practical imperative without a principal verb (an elliptical imperative) see Mr 5:23; Mt 20:32; 1Co 7:29; 2Co 8:7; Eph 4:29; 5:33 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 994). "Fear" ( φοβητα, present middle subjunctive) here is "reverence."