There’s this one word that causes great discomfort to many. It’s the word “head.” To ears sensitized to any hint of subservience and always on the lookout for signs of possible abuse, the idea that one member of the marital union is called “the head” to which the other is to subject themself can seem off-putting, even offensive. It can feel risky in the extreme.

As we examine these sometimes-volatile verses it is crucial that we keep our perspective. The focus of our study is now upon verses that well exemplify the reason that context must never be ignored when interpreting and applying Scripture. Doctrine built on passages severed from their context leads to a great deal of pain and division. Such teaching gives the world fuel with which to malign the word of God and the cause of Christ.

Consequently, we are well advised to ask ourselves “what is the context from which we are to approach our understanding of these verses?”