Ephesians 5:23

the head See 1 Corinthians 11:3. The husband and the wife are "one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31), and the husband, in that sacred union, is the leader. So Christ and the Church are one, and Christ is the Leader.

even as Not, of course, that the headship of the husband embraces allideas conveyed by the Lord's Headship, but it truly answers to it in some essential respects; see last note, and its reference.

Christis the head See on Ephesians 1:22, and last note but one here.

the church The highest reference of the word "Church" (see Hooker, quoted on Ephesians 1:22, where see the whole note) is the reference proper to this passage. The out-called Congregation, truly living by the heavenly Bridegroom, in union with Him, and subject to Him, is in view here. The sacred truth of the Marriage-union of the Lord and the Church, brought in here incidentally yet prominently, pervades (in different phases) the Scriptures. See not only the Canticles, but e.g.Psalms 45; Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:4-5; Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 31:32; Hosea 2:2-20; Matthew 9:15; Matthew 25:1-10; John 3:29; Galatians 4:21-31; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 22:17. It is observable that in the Revelation as in this Epistle the metaphors of building and of bridal appear in harmony; the Mystic Bride is the Holy City and the Spiritual Sanctuary. Cp. Psalms 87:3, where a possible rendering is, "With glorious offersart thou bespoken[for marriage, O Cityof God."

and he is, &c. Read, with R.V., [being] himself the Saviour of the Body. The reference to the Lord, not to the earthly husband, is certain. And the emphasis (see on next ver.) is that Christ's unique position, in this passage of comparison, must be remembered; as if to say, "He, emphatically, is to the Church what no earthly relationship can represent, its Saviour." Some expositors see in this clause, on the other hand, an indirect precept to the husband to be the "preserver," the loyal protector, of the wife. But the "but" which opens the next verse decides against this.

saviour So the Lord is called elsewhere, Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:23; Php 3:20; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:4; Titus 2:13; Tit 3:6; 2 Peter 1:1; 2Pe 1:11; 2 Peter 2:20; 2Pe 3:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:14. Cp. for the word "save" in connexion with Him (in spiritual reference), Matthew 1:21; Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10; John 3:17; John 5:34; John 10:9; John 12:47; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:9-10; Rom 10:9; 1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 7:25. Deliverance and Preservation are both elements in the idea of Salvation. See further, above, on Ephesians 2:5.

the body See on Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:16. The Body is the Church, viewed as a complex living organism. The Gr. words Sôtêr(Saviour) and sôma(body) have a likeness of sound, and perhaps a community of origin, which makes it possible that we have here an intentional "play upon words."