Homilies on Ephesians

Contents

Only Homily 20 (on Eph 5:22–33, husbands and wives), sections 1–7, is published.

Reading pages: 20.1–20.4 · 20.5–20.7

1. 20.1Chrysostom opens his homily on marriage by praising the God-made bond of husband and wife and explaining that wives are to be subject to their husbands as the body to the head.
2. 20.2Chrysostom tells husbands that the measure of their love is Christ's love for the church, who gave himself for an unlovely bride, and warns them not to rule by fear or to value outward beauty.
3. 20.3Chrysostom urges husbands to seek virtue rather than beauty or wealth in a wife, and explains that a wife is the husband's own flesh as believers are members of Christ's body.
4. 20.4Chrysostom explains “the two shall become one flesh” and the “great mystery” of Christ and the church, and why the wife's respect and the husband's love together keep peace in the home.
5. 20.5Chrysostom teaches that each spouse must do his or her part even if the other fails, cites 1 Cor 7:15 for an unbeliever who departs, allows second marriages as a concession, and holds up Abraham's household as a model.
6. 20.6Chrysostom tells wives not to reproach their husbands with poverty and husbands never to strike their wives, and urges a simple wedding without lewd songs and gentle instruction of the young bride.
7. 20.7Chrysostom gives a model speech for a husband to his young bride, urges common prayer, marriage to a poorer rather than a richer wife, and the sharing of all property; the section ends with the opening text of the next homily (Eph 6:1–3).