I’ve decided that this is as good a place as any to conclude the debate/conversation I’ve been having with Andrew Bartlett. It’s not a conversation that continue indefinitely and I am at a stage where I need to give my time to other matters that are more my priority here on Faithroots, specifically I’ve got… Continue reading Concluding my interactions with Andrew Bartlett and his book “Men and Women in Christ”
Tag: marriage
Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to
A lot of the debate about complementarianism in marriage focuses on two questions. I have argued that yes, Ephesians 5:21 does describe mutual submission and that this flows into Paul’s instructions for marriage. So, my approach is that husbands and wives do submit to one an other in marriage, within the context of the husband’s… Continue reading Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to
Marriage at work in Ephesians
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
Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home
I’m a complementarian in regard to church leadership because I believe two things, first that this label best describes the pattern for relationships between husbands and wives in the home. Secondly, that the local church is mean to function as an extended family. Let me expand on that a little. First, complementarianism is based on… Continue reading Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home
Concupiscence, contraception and pastoral carelessness
In his chapter of Ruined Sinners to Reclaim, Stephen Wedgeworth outlines his understanding of a Protestant doctrine of concupiscence before landing on two areas of application, both are around sex and sexuality. The second is about same sex attraction but the first is about contraception. Whilst he doesn’t go so far as ruling out contraception… Continue reading Concupiscence, contraception and pastoral carelessness
Heads, Hierarchies, submission and love
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
1 Corinthians 7, marriage, sex, mutual submission and the complementarian/egalitarian debate
In his book, Men and Women in Christ, Andrew Bartlett begins his Biblical assessment with 1 Corinthians 7. He goes there before addressing the classic texts in the debate (Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 11 & 14 etc). He comments: “By far the longest and most detailed piece of writing in the New… Continue reading 1 Corinthians 7, marriage, sex, mutual submission and the complementarian/egalitarian debate
TL:DR Jesus loves his church … so let him
I recently suggested that the TL:DR (quick summary for those who because something was too long, didn’t read it) of Ephesians 5:22-32 is “husbands are to love their wives and wives are to let them.” The basis for my argument was that we may struggle with authority(headship) and submission language but authority is to do… Continue reading TL:DR Jesus loves his church … so let him
Husbands, love your wives … wives, let them
This title might be seen as a possible TL:DR of one of the crucial applications of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (ch 5:21-32). Back in 2010 for my MTh dissertation I had the privilege of studying that particular passage in depth. You can read the results of that study here:
Marriage when it’s not reciprocal
I’ve argued in previous articles that Paul’s teaching about marriage in Ephesians 5:22-32 is an amplification or application of what it means to “submit to one another” ((5:21). This means that you can describe it as “mutual submission” albeit: However, whether or not we buy into the concept of mutual submission, I think that generally… Continue reading Marriage when it’s not reciprocal
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