Ephesians 5:21-33 - Wives And Husbands

²¹ Be mutually obsequious with christian respect.

²² let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord. ²³ for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body. ²⁴ as the church then is subordinate to Christ, so let women be to their husbands upon all occasions. ²⁵ You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: ²⁶ to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, ²⁷ that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. ²⁸ in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." ²⁹ no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: ³⁰ of which we are the several parts constituting his body.

³¹ the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one."

³² these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. ³³ wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

¹ Let the married women be subservient to their husbands, that if they happen to disbelieve the gospel, they may be gain'd by the instructive conduct of their wives, ² by observing the religious chastity of their manners. ³ let their ornament consist, not in what is external, in curling the hair, in appendages of gold, or finery of dress; ⁴ but in the internal qualities of the mind, in that purity, in that mild and dispassionate temper, which is so acceptable to the divine being. ⁵ the holy religious women of former times were thus adorned, and were submissive to their husbands. ⁶ such was Sarah, who show'd her obeysance to Abraham, by stiling him her Lord: and you will be stiled her children, if you imitate her conduct, and are not to be terrified out of your virtue.

⁷ You husbands, do you on your part behave with prudence towards your wives: who being of a more delicate make, ought to be treated with the greater tenderness: and consider they are equally intitled to the evangelical gifts, that your prayers may not be frustrated.