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NASB | Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 5:33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear]. [1 Pet 3:2] |
Subject: Worthy of Honor but not of Respect |
Bible Note: My purpose for coming to the Forum is to offer the Word of God. Which is the final authority on all matters. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 Those who do not abide by the Word of God always find offense with it. They tend to take this offense out on the individulas who deliver the Word. Thus the death and tortures of the prophets and countless martyrs throughout the ages. Jesus Himself, crucified because the scribes and Pharisees took offense at the Word of God. If God tells the Woman to fear her husband; that is good enough for me. I believe Him. And I believe that His way is best. There is no scripture that gives the woman leeway to decide whether the man is worthy of her fear or obedience. Therefore, I find your position in saying that certain men can be judged by a woman unworthy of her respect and obedience an unreasonable assertion. It is actually putting a qualifier on God's Word. Thus changing it's meaning. Changing the Word of God to suit ones own opinion or thought is a perversion of God's Word. Now I don't think you have perverted God's Word by offering your opinion about what you think. We have all done that at one time or another. But I think a more careful and exhaustive study would be in order before anyone should take it upon themselves to instruct other young Christian's to follow a personal opinion as though it is a biblical doctrine. And I do think you have offered your opinion to others in this manner. There is nothing in the Bible that ever states that it is acceptable for a woman to qualify God's Word concerning God's instruction or that a future time will come in which God's instruction will be invalidated. Therefore, I find no biblical foundation for your argument. If you can prove your position with the Bible (rather than an opinion) please post it to my attention. Your very common platform of may "godly women" is not a biblically based precept that the man of God can go by. God's kingdom is not a democracy. But a theocracy. Nobody votes. Nobody has the right to a contradicting opinion that opposes God's Word in a theocratic kingdom. God has the final Word, always. As far as opinions go, we were warned, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 16:25 I also want to make the point that God does not promise us a happy marriage in the Bible. He gives us instructions, that if followed, will lead to a better marriage. That is why I qualified my assertion that "if the man be in gods will ...." Of course it is not always the case that the man be in God's will. So in that case we can expect more problems in a marriage. But God did not provide any instruction that would make obeying or fearing the man optional in the case that the man was not a godly man. After a comprehensive study on this matter, it is clear to me that God intends that no matter what the spiritual state of the man that the woman is to obey God's instruction. There is simply no other scripture that gives the woman this leeway. If the man does not obey God or treat the woman with love and honour the matter is between God and that man. God is able to deliver that woman if He so desire. But God may have that woman in that man's life for a purpose. That woman's example unto that man can be very significant if she be obedient even when the man is not. Life is not easy for the Christian. Isn't it Paul who wrote, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." 1 Corinthinas 15 Certainly, in many marriages today, if in the husband only the wife had hope, she would be of all women most miserable. But the woman is not fearing and obeying the man for the man's sake alone. She is doing it for Christ sake, as a testimony, as an example -- and it is hard in most cases for the woman to do this. You also asked where was Adam in the garden while Eve was being tempted and exerted that he was right there beside her. No, the scripture clearly implies that Eve was alone at the time of her transgression. It equally implies that Adam knew nothing of it until Eve brought the fruit to Adam. Man is not omnipotent. Eve was in the transgression, because Paul said that she was, while he under the influence of the Holy Ghost as he wrote, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Tim 2:14. You can argue that if you like. But again, if you want to argue it with me, make your argument scriptural. Find something in scripture that reasonably refutes it. Your opinions are your opinions. And unlearned, undisiplined opinions at that. They mean absolutely nothing to me. But I do hope that scripture is important to you. |