Love your wives: Owen’s Argument 16i (final): Various Passages of Scripture

Owen’s Argument 16i (final): Various Passages of Scripture - Love your wives

Text

Eph. v. 25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Owen’s Explanation

Just as a husband shouldn’t love other woman, so Christ doesn’t love the non-elect.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.ix.xi.html

Refutation

The passage doesn’t say non-elect, it says the Church. Does Christ not love the elect before they become a part of the Church? But to demonstrate the Christ loved unbelievers here’s a passage:

Mark 10:21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

While it’s true husbands have a special love for their wives, they are to love all believers (including females). Fathers love their daughters. Sons love their mothers…

The point is there are different kinds of love. And yes, Christ does have a special love for the Church. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love others in a way that He would die for them.

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