What Does The Bible Say?
Question: What does the Bible say about a woman being in subjection to her husband?
Answer- Ephesians 5:22,25 says- “wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as you would as unto the Lord.” Vs. 25- “husband love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.”
It is clear that God has rules for marriage. God has ordained that the husband be the head of the household. He is to rule his home with authority he derives from God. The role of the wife as she supports her husband in his role as head is to subject herself to him and support him in everything he undertakes to do that is in accordance with God’s word. The husband does not have any authority to abuse his wife or children, and he does not have authority from God to be a dictator in his home. He is to guide his house in accordance with God’s laws (not his own). In Ephesians 6:4, he is commanded to “provoke not your children to wrath but rather raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” It is the responsibility of the father to make sure his children are nurtured spiritually in the things of God. He is also commanded to “love his wife, as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.” A man who loves his wife as his own body will not abuse her physically, emotionally or in any other way. He handles her with care, and when he does this, it causes her to want to subject herself to him and love him tenderly. She grows to respect him and not resent him.
Because a woman has a different role in the home (being in subjection to her husband), it does not mean she has lesser value as a person, or should be treated by him as a slave. In Ephesians 5:21, we are all commanded to “submit to one another out of reverence for the Lord.” In the church, each member is to remember that they are servants to others. Jesus taught in John 13 when he washed the feet of the apostles (even Judas), that even He, as their Master, must recognize that all are servants ( just different in rank and responsibilities). In the military, we see this demonstrated by different ranks. Officers have a higher rank than sergeants. But that in no way argues a difference in importance in a battle. Privates, corporals and sergeants are the boots on the ground that get most of the work accomplished, but they get their orders from the officers. Although different in rank, each works together for the orderly fulfillment of the task at hand. Cooks and medics do not bear arms, but no military person will ever minimize their importance and essentiality in the functioning of the combat machine. Each respects the role of the other.
In like manner, husbands need to respect and value their wives for the way they function flawlessly in their God-given roles as wives and mothers. In Proverbs 31:11-12, it reads, “the heart of her husband trusts her. And he shall have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Again, in Proverbs 18:22, it says to the husband, “he who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” 1 Peter 3:7 instructs husbands to dwell with their wives with understanding and compassion. The home where each individual understands their God-given roles functions effectively as God desires. When the wife or husband does not understand and fulfill their role (or abuse their roles), there will always be chaos and no order. This makes for a confused household. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord because it is right and honor their father and mother. Again, when fathers and mothers love one another as husband and wife, they will work together in the raising of any children they are blessed with. Homes will be places where love and peace reign, when all love one another and fulfi ll their God-given roles. May we all strive to have such homes.
Please address all questions and comments to us at What Does the Bible Say? c/o Maple Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website at maplestreetliberty.org