I agree with you on the cultural aspects of this scripture.
One thing I noticed in studying that in Ephesians 5:22 and in 5:21 are the same Greek word....in essence the man is to be "subject" to the woman just as the woman is to the man.....now what does the word "subject" actually mean?..that's another topic..
Ephesians 5:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:20-21 (NASB)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
[SUP]21 [/SUP] and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
One thing I noticed in studying that in Ephesians 5:22 and in 5:21 are the same Greek word....in essence the man is to be "subject" to the woman just as the woman is to the man.....now what does the word "subject" actually mean?..that's another topic..
Ephesians 5:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:20-21 (NASB)
[SUP]20 [/SUP] always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
[SUP]21 [/SUP] and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Did you miss the part in my post that talked about the culture in Ephesus, and the private letter Paul wrote to Timothy to help him deal with the situation?
Of course women are not to domineer over men. But neither are men to domineer women! Yes, Paul tells Timothy to NOT allow women to dominate. But that was with regards to a specific situation, which is why Paul addressed the letter to the young leader, Timothy. He did not address this in his letters which were passed around to be read openly to all the congregations in Asia Minor.
Therefore, not universal but cultural!
Of course women are not to domineer over men. But neither are men to domineer women! Yes, Paul tells Timothy to NOT allow women to dominate. But that was with regards to a specific situation, which is why Paul addressed the letter to the young leader, Timothy. He did not address this in his letters which were passed around to be read openly to all the congregations in Asia Minor.
Therefore, not universal but cultural!