Ephesians 5:30 Commentary and Bible Study

What an extraordinary statement. Here is the explanation for the Lord’s love and care for the church: individual Christians are the members of his body and together make up that mystical body of Christ on earth which is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are of his flesh and of his bones. This of course is a reference to the teaching of Genesis that Eve was formed from the rib taken from Adam’s side, so that Adam says, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man’ (Genesis 2:23). Paul incidentally confirms the historical account of early Genesis. Adam names Eve just as he had named all the animals brought before him. At last, a help meet for him has been found, one created especially to suit his needs. This lesson is then embedded in all human culture, not just among believers. It is so important that the whole world is to be taught about it, in preparation for the gospel being preached to all nations. Because Eve was created from her husband’s body, from his very flesh and bone, Adam knowing how she was made had to regard her as part of his own body, and Eve had to see herself as joined uniquely to her husband. Although she was a living soul like him, having her own body and soul, her origin tied her uniquely to him as to no other human being who would ever exist on earth. In describing her creation and one flesh relationship with Adam, Scripture says that Adam and Eve are a pattern for all subsequent marriage unions. There are some people who, in time past, thought that this 30th and 31st verse meant this: that Adam and Eve, and the creation of Eve from Adam’s side, was a type of Christ and the church. It is a very interesting view. The idea was that just as Eve was taken out of Adam's side, so the redeemed are taken out of Christ's side - his broken body and his shed blood, and that gives rise to us, the church. Well, that is possible. I do not personally think it is an intended type, but I have to be careful; it could well be. But I think the sense is a little bit different: that Christ's care for us is seen in these verses, as if we were one with him. He is so interested in us as his people; and we are to be like that towards our wives. So vitally interested.