The Bible contains verses that have been misused to justify abuse in the context of marriage and family relationships, as well as verses that clearly condemn abuse. Let’s examine both:
Verses Misused to Justify Abuse
- Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”
- Colossians 3:18: “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
- 1 Peter 3:1: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.”
These verses have been misinterpreted to justify male dominance and even abuse in marriages. However, they must be understood in the context of mutual love and respect, as emphasized in the surrounding passages.
God’s Stance of Condemning Abuse Revealed the Bible
- Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.”
- Ephesians 5:25,28-29 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
- Psalm 11:5 “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
- Psalm 82:3 “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.”
- Proverbs 3:31 “Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2 “Let no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.”
- Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others upc according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
- 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
- Matthew 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
These verses clearly show that God condemns violence, abuse, and mistreatment of others, especially within families and marriages. The Bible consistently emphasizes love, kindness, and mutual respect in relationships.
God’s Stance on Abuse
In conclusion, while some verses have been misused to justify abuse, the overall message of the Bible is clear: God condemns abuse in all its forms and calls for relationships based on love, respect, and mutual care.
The Bible portrays God as being firmly against abuse:
- God is described as a protector of the vulnerable.
- The Bible consistently condemns oppression and calls for justice for the oppressed.
- God is portrayed as being on the side of the abused and oppressed.
Read more here:
[1] https://www.riverlifemn.com/sermons-bp/perverting-scripture-to-justify-abuse
[2] https://biblicalcounselingcenter.org/what-does-god-say-about-abuse/
[3] https://www.flyingfreenow.com/what-does-god-say-about-emotional-abuse/
[4] https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Abuse/
[5] https://goodfaithmedia.org/abusers-distort-bible-to-justify-domestic-violence-cms-14959/
[6] https://lifesavingdivorce.com/runfromabusers/
[7] https://www.saferresource.org.au/the_bible_on_domestic_family_violence
