In an effort to promote certain terminology that neither the Scripture nor Reformed confessions espouse or ideologies that are in opposition to Scripture, the church has been left unsettled as to the theology of male and female relationships and roles. Many husbands and wives, sessions, and presbyters, have had long discussions and debates on portions of Scripture unpopular with the world or questionably used in the church.

Now please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lamp stand; so it will be whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there. And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.
II Kings 4:10-11 NKJV

Many theological matters find their best exposition through parables and historic examples. What is the kingdom of Heaven like? It “is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matt. 13:45-46). What does it mean to be called to suffer? Christ suffered for us leaving an example …who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…” (I Peter 2:21-24). How can I know the resurrection on the last day to be true? “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:20).

Few theological topics seem to be more polarizing at present than the topic of men and women, wives and husbands, and their God-ordained roles in this life. In an effort to promote certain terminology that neither the Scripture nor Reformed confessions espouse or ideologies that are in opposition to Scripture, the church has been left unsettled as to the theology of male and female relationships and roles. Many husbands and wives, sessions, and presbyters, have had long discussions and debates on portions of Scripture unpopular with the world or questionably used in the church.

What does it mean for wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22, Col. 3:18, I Peter 3:1-2)? What does it mean for husbands to love their wives as Christ also loved the church (Eph. 5:25) or for husbands to give honor to the wife (I Peter 3:7)? How are we to understand such portions of Scripture in this present evil age? The Lord does not leave us without help, but gives us a living example from a husband and wife whose names we will only know in glory. The wife is of course the Shunammite woman. Her husband is only referred to as “her husband.” But together they teach us a great deal about the way God has ordained for husbands and wives in particular to be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another (Christian Living 101).

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