What does the Bible actually teach about a husband's authority over his wife?
Scripture teaches that the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and wives are to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord. Yet the Bible never gives a husband authority to downtrod his wife, make her a slave or servant; she is part of him, and they are one.
Les explains from Ephesians 5, beginning at verse 21, that Paul writes, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Then Paul says, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord.” Les points out that many miss the point when they think of the biblical teaching that the husband is over the wife and she is submissive. The Bible never gives the husband authority to downtrod his wife. She is never to be his slave and servant, but she is part of him, and they are one. Paul, by inspiration, makes it plain that the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.