5 Flawed Ideas About “Headship” in Marriage
I repond to 5 flawed ideas I often hear as interpretations of Ephesians 5:22-33, including the “husband as decision-maker” idea.
July 21, 2024
20 Comments
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Category: Submission
(2) Submission & the Saviour in Ephesians 5
In part 2, I look at Christ’s role as the “Saviour of the body” and what this means for Paul’s words to wives in Ephesians 5:22-24 and to husbands in Ephesians 5:25ff.
May 5, 2024
14 Comments
(1) Submission & the Saviour in Ephesians 5
Here’s what I’ve been learning about the Greek “submit” verb. I also look at what it meant to Paul that Jesus is the “Saviour of the body.”
April 26, 2024
16 Comments
Submission in 1 Corinthians 15:28 and in Marriage
The Son’s submission to the Father in 1 Cor. 15:28 does not inform our understanding of submission in marriage in the way some people argue. Here’s why.
September 14, 2023
17 Comments
What does submission “in everything” mean?
I look at how Paul uses the phrase “in everything” in his letters and at what it means in, “wives submit to your husbands in everything.”
November 12, 2022
27 Comments
A Close Look at Colossians 3:18 (Wives)
Paul’s words to wives in Col. 3:18 contain a phrase that doesn’t occur elsewhere in the New Testament. What does it mean to submit “as is fitting in the Lord”?
July 1, 2022
12 Comments
Mutual Submission in Early Christian Texts
Some Christians claim that submission is always to a person in authority. In this article, I quote early church bishops who spoke positively about mutual submission.
June 29, 2021
13 Comments
3. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: 1 Sentence or 2?
Is Ephesians 5:21-22 one sentence or two? What is the best way to punctuate these verses? How do ancient manuscripts treat them?
March 1, 2021
5 Comments
2. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: A Missing Verb?
Is it significant that there is no “submit” word in Ephesians 5:22 in two of the oldest Greek manuscripts? Did Paul tell wives to submit?
February 20, 2021
8 Comments
1. The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21-22: Participles
In this article, I look at the Greek participles in Ephesians 5:18-21, especially the “submit” participle in verse 21.
February 20, 2021
10 Comments
Mutual Submission in Ephesians 5:21 and in 1 Peter 5:5
Eph. 5:21 is one New Testament verse that encourages mutual submission. 1 Peter 5:5 is another. This post looks at the Greek grammar and vocabulary of 1 Peter 5:5.
May 3, 2020
19 Comments
The Household Codes are Primarily about Power
The household codes in Eph. 5-6 and Col. 3-4 are not about gender but primarily about power and about mitigating abuse that often comes with power.
February 27, 2019
50 Comments
1 Corinthians 16:16 applies to women ministers too
In 1 Cor. 16:16, Paul tells the Corinthians to submit themselves to coworkers and labourers. Paul refers to several women by these ministry terms.
November 21, 2018
57 Comments
John Paul II on Mutual Submission in Marriage
The stance of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to mutual submission in marriage is much more egalitarian than the stance of many evangelicals.
April 7, 2018
6 Comments
A more beautiful picture than male headship and female submission
Is male headship and female submission the best way for husbands and wives who are in Christ to live by New Testament and New Creation principles?
July 22, 2017
18 Comments
Ephesians 5:22-33 in a Nutshell
In what way (or ways) is the relationship between Jesus and the church a model for marriage? What does Paul mean in Ephesians 5:22-33?
June 21, 2015
41 Comments
Wives, mothers, and female masters in NT household codes
When we read the NT household codes, we need to keep in mind that some “masters” were women. How does this affect our understanding of these passages?
March 31, 2015
37 Comments
Wifely Submission and Holy Kisses
Instructions for wifely submission and holy kisses are given in the NT five times each, but one concept is often emphasised while the other is usually ignored.
March 27, 2014
37 Comments
Mutual Submission is not a Myth
Dear Dr Grudem, mutual submission is not a myth. Submission is not always, or necessarily, to a person in authority (cf. Eph. 5:21–22).
October 18, 2013
20 Comments
Kephalē (“Head”) and Mutual Submission in First Clement
In this post, I show how the word kephalē (head) is used in 1 Clement, in the context of mutual submission, and I show how the author regarded women.
October 6, 2013
31 Comments
The priority of wifely submission vs mutual submission
Wifely submission is never mentioned in the Old Testament or in the Gospels. It is mentioned, however, in a few of the later New Testament letters. Why is that?
August 29, 2013
18 Comments
7 Lessons from the Ministry of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15–18)
In 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 Paul mentions Stephanas and his colleagues. There are a few lessons about Christian service and submission that can be gleaned here.
July 8, 2013
7 Comments
Submission in Christian Marriage
What does submission mean? What does the Bible say about submission in marriage? Is wifely submission relevant in our modern western societies?
August 14, 2012
20 Comments
Paul’s Main Point in Ephesians 5:22–33
Ephesians 5:22-33 is written as a chiasm with a highlighted point at the centre of the passage. We misinterpret this passage if we miss this main point.
April 30, 2012
91 Comments
Gender Bias in the New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) seems supportive and inclusive of women because it often translates adelphoi as “brothers and sisters” but it promotes male authority.
October 11, 2011
22 Comments
Submission and Respect from Husbands in 1 Peter 3:7-8
Many Christians believe that submission in marriage is the duty only of wives. In 1 Peter 3:7 Peter comes close to saying that husbands are to be submissive to their wives too.
September 11, 2011
43 Comments
Submission and Respect from Wives in 1 Peter 3:1-6
In 1 Peter 3:1-6, Peter instructs wives to submit and he uses the examples of “the holy women of the past” and Sarah to help make his points. Who were these “holy women of the past”? In what way did Sarah submit to Abraham?
September 1, 2011
40 Comments
Double Standards in the Promotion of Submission
Why aren’t the biblical concepts of wifely submission and submission to governing authorities given equal emphasis in the church?
May 22, 2011
9 Comments
Power Struggles in Christian Marriage?
Are power struggles between a Christian husband and wife an ordinary part of married life? Annoyingly, many Christian books on marriage presume so.
June 13, 2010
16 Comments
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