In a mathematical word-problem, the English word “is” means “equal to”. When a teacher, for example, says, “Two plus two is four”, he also could have said, “two plus two equals four.”
In Scripture, the Greek word kathos means “equal to”. This is important to know because this word is used twice in Ephesians 5 to describe the standard/example a Christian is to follow.
According to verse 2, the example for walking in love is Christ: just “as (kathos) He has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” we are to walk in love. Jesus’ example is our authoritative standard. We are to compare ourselves to no one else. To be a Christian means we belong to Christ, and we diligently seek to imitate Jesus’ example in every possible way.
According to verse 25, the example a husband is to use in loving his wife is Christ’s: “just as (kathos) Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” each Christian husband is to love his wife unselfishly and sacrificially. Again, Jesus’ example is the authoritative standard. A Christian husband is to compare himself to no one else. He belongs to Christ and is to diligently seek to imitate Christ’s example in every possible way.
Kathos makes Christ’s example the highest standard for living and loving in the world!
