Wives, Submit!

As Paul takes up the specifics of the ethics of the Christian household, he addresses wives and commands them to submit to their own husbands. Submission is defined in terms of the spatial image of hierarchy and subordination, and consists of coming under the firm control of another, to submit to, to be subject to, to be subordinate. Furthermore, verse 24 explains that this submission is universal in extent as Paul commands wives to submit to their husbands in "everything." Of course, submission is limited by the Law, since husbands are never given authority by God to command their wives to speak or act in ways that are contrary the commands and teaching of Scripture. But in all things lawful, wives are to submit to their husbands because God has established the headship of the husband in marriage by creational ordinance. Wives are to submit to their husbands, not because a bunch of men got together and decided they wanted to be in charge; rather, wives are to submit to their husbands because God established hierarchy and subordination in marriage according to his wise, creative design. This message concludes with a series of specific applications explaining in concrete terms what it means to submit and offers a handful of Biblical motives to fuel submission.