The often quoted book complementarian book\u00a0Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanwood<\/em> (1991), devotes entire chapters to passages like Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. Colossians 3:18-18, and 1 Peter 3:1-7. But the ONLY text in the Bible that actually uses the word “authority” in the context of marriage, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, is given no consideration. Likewise, in John Piper’s book\u00a0What\u2019s the Difference? Manhood and Womanhood Defined by the Bible<\/em> (2001) there are two lists of verses dealing with marriage provided, but 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 is not even included (see pages 21,66).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nIt is certainly interesting that the only place were the Bible gives the husband and wife authority over the other is missing in the sections dealing with authority and submission in \u00a0Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. <\/em>RBMW is\u00a0produced by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). \u00a0In CBMW’s book there is only one short reference to 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 in the overview section under question #46. \u00a0\u00a0Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood<\/em> says:<\/span><\/p>\nNeither husband nor wife is given more rights over the body of the other. \u00a0And when some suspension of sexual activity is contemplated, Paul repudiates unilaterial decision making by the wife or the husband. \u00a0“Do not deprive each other except \u00a0by mutual consent<\/em> and for a time” (v. 5)<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the implications of this text for the leadership of the husband? \u00a0Do the call for mutual yielding to sexual need and the renunciation of unilateral planning nullify the husband’s responsibility for general leadership \u00a0in the marriage? \u00a0We don’t think so. \u00a0But this text definitely shapes that leadership and gives added Biblical guidance for how to work it out. \u00a0It makes it clear that leadership will not involve selfish unilateral choices. \u00a0He will always strive for the ideal of agreement. \u00a0He will take into the account the truth that her sexual needs and desires carry the same weight as his own in developing the pattern of their intimacy.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSo while neither the husband nor the wife has “more rights” over the body of their spouse, apparently 1 Cor. 7:5 still includes the husband’s leadership by “shaping” that leadership, according to CBMW. \u00a0The door is apparently not closed to the husband’s unilateral choice as long as it is not “selfish unilateral choices”. \u00a0It is apparent that CBMW allows the husband’s “leadership” that is “shaped” in 1 Cor. 7:5 to still override his wife’s will as he considers her needs but takes his leadership “responsibility” to take out his male trump card out if there is a disagreement. \u00a0The question should be asked whether 1 Cor. 7:5 mentions any leadership responsibilities at all for the man? \u00a0It is an amazing thing for CBMW to be able to pull out a “leadership” role even in a passage that is clear that the decision must be made by both in agreement. \u00a0No pulling out the male entitlement card is even hinted at in this passage.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"male_card2](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/male_card2.jpg?resize=300%2C374\")
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Wade Burleson then quotes from Jon Zens regarding the rule for times of temporary separation that forbids the husband from overruling his wife:<\/span><\/p>\nFirst, 1 Cor.7:1-5 is the only place in the NT where the word \u201cauthority\u201d (Greek, exousia) is used with reference to marriage. But it is not the authority of the husband over the wife, or vice versa, that is in view, but rather a mutual authority over each other\u2019s body. 1 Corinthians 7:4 states that the wife has authority over her husband\u2019s body. One would think that this would be a hard pill to swallow for those who see \u201cauthority\u201d as resting only in the husband\u2019s headship.<\/span><\/p>\nSecond, Paul states that a couple cannot separate from one another physically unless there is mutual consent (Greek,symphonou<\/em>). Both parties must agree to the separation or it doesn\u2019t happen. The husband cannot override the wife\u2019s differing viewpoint.<\/span><\/p>\nJohn Piper suggests that \u201cmature masculinity accepts the burden of the final say in disagreements between husband and wife, but does not presume to use it in every instance\u201d (p.32). The problem with a dogmatic statement like this is that it will allow for no exceptions. But 1 Corinthians 7:5 contradicts Piper\u2019s maxim. If the wife disagrees with a physical separation, the husbandcannot overrule his wife<\/em><\/strong> with the\u00a0\u201cfinal choice\u201d<\/em> (p.33). Such separation can occur only if both husband and wife are in\u201csymphony\u201d<\/em> (unity) about such an action.<\/span><\/p>\nNow if mutual consent applies in an important issue like physical separation from one another for a period of time, wouldn\u2019t it seem proper that coming to one-mindedness would be the broad model for decision-making in a healthy marriage? Piper feels that \u201cin a good marriage decision-making is focused on the husband, but is not unilateral\u201d (p.32). In light of 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 I would suggest that\u00a0decision-making should focus on finding the Lord\u2019s mind together<\/em>. Over the years the good ideas, solutions to problems and answers to dilemmas will flow from both husband and the wife as they seek the Lord as a couple for \u201csymphony.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n1 Corinthians 7:5 throws a wrench into the works for those who would include the husband\u2019s\u00a0\u201cfinal say\u201d <\/em>in male headship. Paul teaches that unless the couple can agree on a course of action, it cannot be executed. I suggest that this revelation invites us to re-examine what the husband\u2019s headship really entails (cf. Gordon D. Fee, \u201c1 Corinthians 7:1-7 Revisited,\u201d Paul & the Corinthians: Studies On A Community in Conflict, Trevor J. Burke\/J. Keith Elliott, eds., Brill, 2003, pp.197-213).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nI appreciate Jon Zen’s words about the husband’s obligation not to overrule his wife’s will in this important passage. \u00a0Dr. Zens has been very supportive to my own ministry and he recommends and sells my DVD set Women in Ministry Silenced or Set Free?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nWhat do you think? \u00a0Is there a “leadership role” for the husband in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 as CBMW claims?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Can a wife’s authority be overruled? Wade Burleson has an interesting post about marital authority and the only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. \u00a0Burleson writes: The often quoted book complementarian book\u00a0Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanwood (1991), devotes entire chapters to passages like Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. Colossians 3:18-18, and 1 Peter 3:1-7. But the ONLY text in the Bible that actually uses the word “authority” in the context of marriage, 1…<\/p>\n
Read More Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[13,14,47,52],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Women in Ministry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2009-12-11T12:52:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-12-01T04:52:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/man-wife.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cheryl Schatz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cheryl Schatz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/\",\"name\":\"Can a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2009-12-11T12:52:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-12-01T04:52:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/d7a33503fddaf9e8c392972b2801441a\"},\"description\":\"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can a wife’s authority be overruled?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/\",\"name\":\"Women in Ministry\",\"description\":\"This blog is for dialogue on the issue of women in ministry and the freedom for women to teach the bible in a public setting. It is also for questions and answers on our DVD entitled \u201cWomen in Ministry: Silenced or Set Free?\u201d This 4 DVD set answers the hard passages of scripture that seem to restrict women\u2019s ministry.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/d7a33503fddaf9e8c392972b2801441a\",\"name\":\"Cheryl Schatz\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e19c4eee7accb8e3a07173a2c17c808?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e19c4eee7accb8e3a07173a2c17c808?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Cheryl Schatz\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/author\/cheryl-schatz\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry","description":"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry","og_description":"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?","og_url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/","og_site_name":"Women in Ministry","article_published_time":"2009-12-11T12:52:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2016-12-01T04:52:02+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/man-wife.jpg"}],"author":"Cheryl Schatz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Cheryl Schatz","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/","url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/","name":"Can a wife's authority be overruled? - Women in Ministry","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#website"},"datePublished":"2009-12-11T12:52:22+00:00","dateModified":"2016-12-01T04:52:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/d7a33503fddaf9e8c392972b2801441a"},"description":"The only time that the Bible uses the word authority in the context of marriage. Rethinking a non-biblical tradition. Can a wife's authority be overruled?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2009\/12\/11\/can-a-wifes-authority-be-overruled\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can a wife’s authority be overruled?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#website","url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/","name":"Women in Ministry","description":"This blog is for dialogue on the issue of women in ministry and the freedom for women to teach the bible in a public setting. It is also for questions and answers on our DVD entitled \u201cWomen in Ministry: Silenced or Set Free?\u201d This 4 DVD set answers the hard passages of scripture that seem to restrict women\u2019s ministry.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/d7a33503fddaf9e8c392972b2801441a","name":"Cheryl Schatz","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e19c4eee7accb8e3a07173a2c17c808?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e19c4eee7accb8e3a07173a2c17c808?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Cheryl Schatz"},"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/author\/cheryl-schatz\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p30ZFw-rD","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2499,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2012\/01\/08\/eph-5-infected\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":0},"title":"Ephesians 5 infected with the mindset of the world","date":"January 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In my last post,\u00a0I presented one of the best sermons that I have ever heard on Ephesians 5, regarding the evidence of Spirit-filled lives for both men and women.\u00a0 This post is on the opposite of the Spirit-filled life which is an influx of worldly infection through male-centered pride. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Authority and leadership"","img":{"alt_text":"Worldly infection on Women in Ministry blog by Cheryl Schatz","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/power3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":134,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2007\/07\/29\/pastor-paul-and-women-in-ministry\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":1},"title":"Pastor Paul and women in ministry","date":"July 29, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Every once in awhile I link to a blog that has material that I really like.\u00a0 Today I want to link to a blog by Pastor Paul Burleson which has some good things about women in ministry even though Pastor Paul is \"going against the flow\" in the Southern Baptist\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs by others"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":221,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2008\/04\/25\/partriarchy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":2},"title":"Patriarchal authority and free will","date":"April 25, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the key differences between an egalitarian and a patriarchal marriage is in the area of authority and will. In a patriarchal marriage, the man is set up as the final decision maker of the home and he is given the right to make a decision for his wife\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Man as Priest of the home"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2027,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2010\/04\/16\/married-authority-husband\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":3},"title":"Common objections to women in ministry – authority of the husband","date":"April 16, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"In our continuing topic of common objections to women in ministry, the objection is raised that women cannot have authority in the church since wives are under their husband's authority. The concern is that if women had leadership roles in the church, then their leadership role would be in submission\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answering complementarian arguments"","img":{"alt_text":"husband-authority on Women in Ministry by Cheryl Schatz","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/husband-authority.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2114,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2010\/06\/02\/submission-and-origin-of-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":4},"title":"Submission and the origin of authority","date":"June 2, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"When is authority given and when can it be rightfully assumed? \u00a0These are questions that have divided egalitarians and complementarians in the area of marriage. \u00a0While egalitarians generally will agree that submission is a characteristic of Spirit-filled Christians who love and respect the body of Christ, and who serve each\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adam and headship"","img":{"alt_text":"Authority given on Women in Ministry by Cheryl Schatz","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/authority-given.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":552,"url":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/2008\/10\/02\/recovering-from-feminism-recovery\/","url_meta":{"origin":1713,"position":5},"title":"Recovering from “feminism recovery”","date":"October 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Wade Burleson has written an exceptionally thought-provoking post on the difference between one young woman's journey through her pain (it appears to be a rejection of herself by a boyfriend) into the pathway of accepting a tradition that gives authoritarian license to males vs one young slave woman's courage in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Authority and Women"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1713"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3328,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713\/revisions\/3328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/man-wife.jpg?resize=375%2C345\")
<\/p>\n