WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT MARRIAGE ROLES?
What is the wife’s role in marriage?
Helpmate (Gen 2:18)
Loving and gracious submission to the leadership of her husband (Eph 5:22, Col 3:18)
Not strive/resist the leadership of her husband (Gen 3:16, 1 Pet 3:1)
Respect her husband (Eph 5:33)
Diligent worker, whether at home or in the workplace (Pro 31)
Hospitable towards others and generous towards poor (Pro 31)
Cares for children and household (Prov 31)
Meet sexual needs of husband (1 Cor 7)
Be beautiful on the inside (1 Pet 3:4)
What is the husband’s role in marriage?
Spiritual leader ( 1 Cor 11:3) towards glorifying God and unity with each other (one flesh)
Not dictatorial or harsh (Col 3:19)
Leading in a sacrificial way the way Christ loves the church (Eph 5:23)
Provide - feed and care (Eph 5:29, Gen 3:17-19)
Protect - love their wives as themselves (Eph 5:28, 1 Pet 3:7)
Praise your wife (Prov 31:28)
Meet sexual needs of wife (1 Cor 7)
Be considerate & respect your wife (1Pet 3:7)
To solve marriage conflict, we must not:
Be proud against each other – (1 Cor 4:6)
Judge one another – (Romans 12:16)
Lie to one another – (Colossians 3:9)
Be partial with one another – (1 Tim 5:21)
Provoke or envy one another – (Gal 5:26)
Lust after one another – (Romans 1:27)
Hate one another - Titus 3:3
Take one another to court – (1 Cor 6:1-7)
Use each other - Galatians 5:15
To solve marriage conflict, we must:
Be at peace with one another - Mark 9:50
Love one another - John 13:34; Rom 12:10; 1 Pet 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12
Build up one another - Rom 14:19; Eph 4:12; 1Thess 5:11
Be of the same mind toward one another - Romans 12:16
Give preference to one another - Romans 12:10
Greet one another - Romans 16:16
Esteem others as better than yourself - Philippians 2:3
Serve one another - Galatians 5:13
Receive one another - Romans 15:7
Be devoted to one another - Romans 12:10
Rejoice or weep with one another - Romans 12:15
Admonish one another - Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16
Care for one another - 1 Corinthians 12:25
Show tolerance to one another - Rom15:1-5; Eph4:2; Col 3:13
Be kind and forgiving to one another - Ephesians 4:32; Col 3:13
Submit to one another - Romans 12:10; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Pet 5:5
Comfort one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13
Be compassionate with one another - 1 Peter 3:8
Pray for one another - James 5:16
Confess your faults to one another - James 5:16
Accept one another - Romans 14:1; 15:7
Passages on Marriage
(Ephesians 5:22-33) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. [25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. [31] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
(1 Corinthians 11:2-16) Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. [3] But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. [4] Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, [5] but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. [6] For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. [7] For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. [8] For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. [9] Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. [10] That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. [11] Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; [12] for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. [13] Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? [14] Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, [15] but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. [16] If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
(1 Peter 3:1-7) [Wives and Husbands] Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2] when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—[4] but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. [5] For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, [6] as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.[7] Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
(Colossians 3:18-25) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. [20] Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. [21] Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.