Key #1. Recognizing the limits of the passage.
Key #2. Recognizing the patterns inside the passage.
Key #3. Recognizing the hints inside the passage.
Let us start with Key #1, recognizing the limits of a passage.
If we take into account the complete extent of a passage, the ends and edges, this will reveal the tone and intent of what is inside the passage and help us understand the content. A distinct passage is called a pericope.
Let’s take the case of this passage: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. The problem is that there are authors who start their study of 1 Corinthians 11 with verse 3, not verse 2. Some end their study with verse 12, not verse 16. How are we to expect one to fully explain the passage when they have missed the extent of the passage itself?
Both ends: In verse 2, in the beginning of the passage, Paul writes, “I praise you.” Then, in the verses that follow, Paul praises his readers in Corinth for doing what he had previously taught them to do. In verse 17, in the beginning of the next passage, Paul’s tone and content changes sharply to read “I no longer am praising you.”
Whatever is written in verses 2-16 is to be taken as one whole idea, one coherent train of thought in which Paul is approving of what was being done, presumably in spite of opposition of some kind. Then, beginning with verse 17 Paul is not pleased with the actions of the people in the church in Corinth.
When you read someone’s interpretation of these verses in the first half of 1 Corinthians 11 be sure to check if they have taken the full passage into account.
Key #2. Recognizing patterns inside a passage.
There are patterns used in English that modern readers incorrectly lay on top of ancient texts. For example, modern English readers look for topic sentences that typically come at the beginning or end of a paragraph. However, this is not where main ideas were generally placed in Hebrew or Greek. The numbers we come across in our Bibles, for chapters and verses, were not part of the original text of the Bible. In some passages these inserted numbers were not well placed and hinder our appreciation of the flow of thought of key passages.
Let’s take the case of this unit inside the passage: Ephesians 5:19-21. There are how many verses here? Just three. So, people look for three ideas. This is the beginning of flawed interpretation, based mainly on paying too much attention to the verse numbers.
When English speakers look for a topic sentence at the start or end of a section matters get worse. People take the third verse as the key idea because it is the last of the three numbered verses. They may study the verse as to how it fits as part number three or they may study that verse all by itself. In all this they make several unnecessary interpretative errors.
As we look closely, we see that there are actually four parts to what is numbered as just three verses 19-21. There are two parts to verse 19 in the pattern. This section is an ABB’A’ parallelism. The two A parts, A and A prime in 19a and 21, mirror or complement what is written in the corresponding part. The same is true for the two B parts, B and B prime in 19b and 20.
Thus, we find verse 19a is linked with verse 21. Each speaks of “to one another.” In 19b and 20 we have two parts that point “to God” or “to the Lord.” This linking of 19a with 21 helps us recognize that the submitting in verse 21 is one half of the “one another” activity of 19a.
Key #3. Recognizing the hints inside the passage.
Many people argue over the meaning of Ephesians 5:22. Some recognize it takes its verb from verse 21. But verse 21 is linked to verse 19a.
Let’s take the case of the hints we get inside the unit of 19a-21. Do people give proper focus on verse 19a? At first the words seem to lack detail. What does “speaking to one another” have to do with “submitting to one another?”
However, the parallel verse in Colossians 3:16 provides the details we need. Our helpful interpretive hint is that both Ephesians 5:19a and Colossians 3:16 are paired with these words, “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” Also, it is very interesting that the Colossians verse uses two verbs in place of the one verb, “speaking.” Believers are “teaching and admonishing” one another. This enriches our understanding of what is meant in Ephesians 5:19a by “speaking.”
In modern Christianity these actions are what is called “disciple making,” or “mutual upbuilding.” These actions flow from being filled with the Spirit (verse 18b). Born again, believers in Christ are to build one another up. They are to submit to and profit from the teaching and correction they give to one another.
This is not a vertical hierarchical relationship where one person is over another who simply submits because they are under them. This is a horizontal reciprocal mutual relationship that every believer is to have with every other one. People who fixate only on Ephesians 5:21 out of context miss the content of the paired activities in 19a and 21.
Impact.
Using these three keys to understanding in this Bible passage is very important. This is because the reciprocal action of verses 19a and 21 is what is to be inserted into verses 22 and following.
Just as the action of verse 18b was explained in detail in the parallelism of 19a-21 so too the action of 19a and 21 is next explained in detail in the complex chiasm of Ephesians 5:22-6:9.
A chiasm has its main idea in the middle, which in this case is 5:32. There Paul focuses on what was previously hidden but is now made known, that the church and Christ make up one united joint-body. This is a profound joint-body unity like that of the married couple in Eden (Ephesians 5:31).
So, how does Paul begin the chiasm of 5:22-6:9 on the profound unity of Jesus and all believers? He takes the action of reciprocal care and upbuilding of verses 19a and 21 and uses it in verse 22. This verse in Greek has no verb in it which requires the readers to insert the previous action in it.
This verse is not just about wives. Wives cannot reciprocally build up someone else without being united with that other spouse. Verse 22 is not speaking about all wives in all marriages. It is speaking about healthy Christian marriages in which each partner is teaching and correcting the other who responds and accepts the upbuilding they are receiving from their marriage partner. This intimate family unity illustrates how life in the Body of Christ is to function!
Three Keys to the Eden Passages by Bruce C. E. Fleming © April, 2026
