The passage in Ephesians that compares the union of husband and wife to that of Christ and the church is a favorite ecclesial image, yet it has always been problematic. It is not clear what is the intended function of the household codes, and this passage in particular is open to a variety of misinterpretations. The effects of the way in which simile and metaphor function in the passage extend beyond ecclesiology in ways that suit certain interests. A feminist analysis indicates some interpretive mistakes and suggests some criteria for approaching this beautiful but dangerous text.
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