Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5

Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5 Below is Andrew’s response to my latest article.  I try to send Andrew an advanced draft of what I’m about to say and keen-eyed observers will notice that I amended the first comment he picks up on, prompted by his comment. … Continue reading Heads, bodies, submission and BDAG: Andrew Bartlett’s response to my article on Ephesians 5

Marriage at work in Ephesians

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In my detailed engagement with Andrew Bartlett’s book, “Men and Women in Christ, we’ve got to the bit where he engages with Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3.  You will probably have picked up that I think he should have made this his starting point   Now, you might think that maybe this reflects my own bias,… Continue reading Marriage at work in Ephesians

Heads, Hierarchies, submission and love

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Under this title, Andrew Bartlett looks at Colossians 3 and Ephesian 5 in his book. He suggests that in relation to these passages, we should address three questions, disputed by commentators. 1.Does Paul teach in these letters that marriage is a hierarchical relationship in which the husband is in a position of unilateral authority over… Continue reading Heads, Hierarchies, submission and love

Marriage health-check (applying Ephesians 5)

In my previous article, I suggested that we should be cautious about attempting to be over prescriptive about what it means to practically apply Ephesians 5:21-32.  I’m convinced that rather than looking at each aspect individually to see if wives are submitting, husbands are being good heads etc that we do best to look at… Continue reading Marriage health-check (applying Ephesians 5)

What we don’t talk about: The Fall out from that TGC article about sex and salvation

Following “that” article on The Gospel Coalition Website about sex and salvation, the saga continues.  You may remember that at the time I wrote my response, the original article had been pulled and replaced with a longer article from Josh Butler’s book.  Well, if you go to the page now, you’ll instead find a statement… Continue reading What we don’t talk about: The Fall out from that TGC article about sex and salvation

Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis

I often return to the question of how we understand and apply Ephesians 5:21ff to marriage today. I’ve a particular interest in this area having written my MTh dissertation on the passage. So I have an academic interest but my concern is that this should be helpfully practical. One of the conclusions I’ve come to… Continue reading Headship and love – What Ephesians 5 says about the cost of living crisis

The big beautiful marriage story

One of my favourite Bible passages is Ephesians 5:21-33. It’s the passage which I looked at for my MTh dissertation and yet in many respects I’m frustrated by how it is treated by Christians. It has become the battle ground for tribal disputes and the result has been a narrowing of focus and a squeezing… Continue reading The big beautiful marriage story

Aimee Byrd and Biblical manhood (part 1)

Another row has been brewing and building state side and whilst it may not appear to have immediate implications here in the UK, I believe the implications are there both because of the international interconnectedness of the church and because there are lessons and warning signs of for us too. The row centres around an… Continue reading Aimee Byrd and Biblical manhood (part 1)