THE BIBLICAL MODEL OF A WIFE #052

Topic: THE BIBLICAL MODEL OF A WIFE Biblical Reading: Genesis 2:18, 25 Key Verse: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Gen. 2:18) I. The Wife as a Suitable Companion • Base Text: Genesis 2:18 • Teaching: God created woman to meet man's need for companionship and help. • Application: Marriage is not just cohabitation, but spiritual and emotional communion. The wife reflects the divine design as a suitable helper. II. The Wife Submits to Her Husband • Base Text: Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands. so that even those who do not believe the word may be won without words by the conduct of their wives. • Teaching: Submission does not imply inferiority, but rather order and obedience to God. • Subpoints: a. Obedience b. Mutual dependence (1 Corinthians 11:11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman;) c. Respect (Ephesians 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.) • Application: Submission is an act of faith and obedience to the Lord, never a justification for abuse. The husband must love sacrificially as Christ loved the church. III. Wisdom in Behavior • Base Text: 1 Peter 3:1-2 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands; so that even those who do not believe the word may be won without words by the conduct of their wives, when they see your chaste and respectful behavior. Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears hers down with her own hands. • Lesson: Wise and respectful conduct can win over even an unbelieving husband. • Application: The godly wife builds her home wisely, being a living testimony of the gospel. IV. Christian Attitude • Base Text: 1 Peter 3:4 but the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. • Lesson: A gentle and quiet spirit is more valuable than strife. • Application: The wife reflects the character of Christ in her marriage, overcoming with gentleness and patience. V. Conclusion • God established order in all of His creation, and marriage reflects that order. • • The wife has a fundamental role in building the home and in Christian witness. • The home is a “domestic church” where both spouses serve God and edify one another. ✨ Reformed Doctrine (Supplement) • Equality in dignity: Man and woman were created in the image of God (Westminster Confession). • Different roles, same value: The difference in functions reflects the Christ-Church relationship. • Mutual dependence: “Woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). • Providential witness: God uses the wife’s godly conduct as a means to work in the husband. • The home as a domestic church: The Reformation emphasizes that the family is the primary place of discipleship and worship. 📝 Review Questions 1. What does it mean to be a suitable helper? 2. How is submission understood in Reformed doctrine? 3. What attitude should a wife reflect according to 1 Peter 3:4? 4. How can a wife build her home as a domestic church?