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Hymns. a[/d. kai; yavll. th'/ k. ] The outward music was to be accompanied by the inward music of the heart.

20. eujcaristou'nte" ...] The chief element in all is thanksgiving to GOD: see vs.
4. This springs out of the sense of our relation to ‘our Lord Jesus Christ.’
ejn ojnovm ...] 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 5:4; 6:11; Col. 3:17.
tw'/ q. kai; p. ] So James 1:27; oJ q. kai; p. hJmw'n 1 Thess. 1:3; Gal. 1:4; Phil. 4:20; comp. Eph. 4:6 q. kai; p. pavntwn… oJ qeo;" pathvr Col. 3:17; [ oJº q. oJ pathvr 2 Thess. 2:16. Comp. oJ kuvrio" kai; pathvr James 3:9.

21. Each man feels his own place in the unity of the one body in Christ. In mutual subjection all realise the joy of fellowship. Such harmonious subjection of one to another is the social expression of the personal feeling of thankfulness.
ejn fovbw/ Cr. ] 2 Cor. 5:11 to;n fovbon tou' kurivou ; Acts 9:31.

The special family relationships (Eph. 5:22-6:9). After describing the general temper of Christians, St Paul goes on to illustrate their mutual subjection by their fulfilment of the special family relations, (1) wives and husbands (22-33), (2) children and parents (6:1-4), (3) servants and masters (5-9). In each case he considers the weaker first; and the fulfilment of duty by the weaker is met by the answering duty of the stronger: subjection by love; obedience by tender education; obedient and sincere service by corresponding service.

It is to be observed that he limits his instructions to the members of families. He says nothing of civic relations. The home, in its fullest sense, is a creation of the Gospel, the immediate application of the Incarnation to common life.

In each case the obligation is based on the connexion of the believer with Christ (vs. 22 wJ" tw'/ kurivw/ . 6:1 ejn kurivw/ . 6:5 wJ" tw'/ cristw'/ ). We are to see Christ in those to whom we owe subjection and reverence. Our duty does not depend on their personal character.

It may be added that there is more instruction on the duties of home in the Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians than in all the rest of the New Testament.

(b) Wives and husbands (22-33).

The Apostle deals first with the relation which is the foundation of ordered human life. He points out that the wife is to the husband as the Church to Christ. In this we find the type of the wife's subjection (22-24), and of the husband's love (25-
30). Marriage issues in a vital unity which points to the ideal consummation of humanity (31, 32).

22. Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For a husband is head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the Church, being Himself Saviour of the body. 24 But as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for it; 26 that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the bath of water accompanied by a confession of faith (a word), 27 that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as being their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ the Church , 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this


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