Some thoughts after a stimulating discussion of Ephesians 5 with my colleague Toby Sumpter. Toby pointed out that the description of marital life in Ephesians includes a number of sacrificial terms: Husbands are to imitate the Christ who “gave Himself,” who “washes” His bride, who presents her without spot or blemish, who sanctifies her. Christ gave Himself to prepare His bride as a suitable sacrifice.
This offers some interesting angles on the sacrificial system. First, it supports Jim Jordan’s notion that the sacrifices are “bridal food,” a point that Jordan makes by etymologically connecting the Hebrew word for “offering by fire” to the Hebrew word for “woman.” In Ephesians 1, the offering is in fact the bride; she is being sanctified to be consumed on the altar.
Second, it suggests that it would be possible to develop a theology of marriage from the sacrificial system. How? Who knows?
Third, the specific language Paul uses connects marriage to the ascension offering. Only the ascension offering is explicitly said to be “washed” (Leviticus 1:9, 13). The husband is described as the “head”; though worshipers placed their hand on the head of animals in every offering, only in the ascension offering is the head offered (1:8, 12; cf. 4:11-12). The bride, it appears, is being prepared for ascension.
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