A Study on Submission

In the Scriptures we see an interesting thing, contrary to most of the cultures of the day, the Bible gives the woman a place of honor, not as a piece of property, but as a daughter of the king. Some might say that the laws given in the Scriptures are to squash the woman, to put her into bondage, but I tell you, NAY. The Bible gives the woman a special place of honor. God did not take the woman from Adam’s foot to be trod upon, nor did He take her from his head, to lord it over the man, but instead God brought her from Adam’s side, to walk by his side in the Lord. In God’s sight each has the same soul value. However God has given the man and the woman very different jobs to do within the home. We will see from the Bible what the roles are. If you are truly seeking to allow God’s Book to reign over you, I believe you will find this study very helpful. If, however you wish to have power over His book, I believe you will have troubles.

In Genesis
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
God made the woman to help the man. He knew that man had need of someone to glorify God.
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

So, we see here that God created the woman to be co-equal, co-dependent with the man. But then sin entered:
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

When sin entered it changed everything, instantly they were separated from God, the woman was fooled, the man was not, into sin. So God cursed the ground, the man, and the woman because of sin.
Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

When sin entered it changed the face of the whole worlds economy. Now the man was to rule over the woman. The New Testament restates this:
1Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

So God clearly states that the woman is to be in subjection under the man. We also see in Scripture that the woman is never to be out from under the authority of a man. In Numbers:
Numbers 30:1 And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded. Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Num 30:3 If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; Num 30:4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. Num 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. Num 30:6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; Num 30:7 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. Num 30:8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. Num 30:9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. Num 30:10 And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; Num 30:11 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. Num 30:12 But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. Num 30:13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. Num 30:14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. Num 30:15 But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. Num 30:16 These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.

In these Scriptures we see that the final authority for a daughter is her father, after she gets married her final authority is her husband. Notice the Bible says that her iniquity will be on her husband/father if she is in subjection to him. God has given the woman a shield of subjection, if only she will use it. You say but what about if she has no father or husband? The New Testament gives us the answer to this question.
1Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Ti 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
1Ti 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

This I say then, I believe that a widow who is free, through the death of her husband, should be a ward of the Church. I do not have black and white Scripture, but I think it would be a wise woman who would place herself under the Godly authority of the Church. However, she is free to decide that on her own.

The New Testament gives us some very clear Scriptures speaking to the submission of the wife.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

God tells us here that a wife is to submit herself unto her husband as unto the Lord. How should a woman submit herself to God, then? That is the question for this passage. We all should submit to God our all. Christ is the head of the Church. Does the hand tell the head what to do? No.Does the foot tell the head what to do? No. The wife is to obey her husband in everything.

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Many stumble over this phrase “As it is fit in the Lord.” It really is quite simple, God says the wife should submit to her husband as it is her duty to the Lord. That is what this “Fit” means. It is the duty of every wife in the Lord to obey her husband.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 1Co 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. 1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 1Co 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

In these Scriptures we see the headship of man in the home. Once again God uses the illustration of the head to show us how important it is, can the hand tell the head “I will not because...”? No. Within these Scriptures we also see the headship veil, or head covering. Many have stumbled over this Biblical teaching as well, but that is a subject for another discussion. Needless to say the veil is an outward symbol of the wife’s inward submission to her husband.

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Here once again we see that the obedience of the wife is a New Testament commandment. Some may say, “Well, I am under grace not law.” You are correct you are saved by Grace, through faith.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

The Law is in harmony with Grace. The Law is an empty void without Jesus, then Jesus came and fulfilled the Law.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

God even went so far as to say:
Phillipians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

See that phrase, "Work out your own salvation..." He does not say work for, He says work out. Once you have the precious gift of Salvation it needs worked out, it needs performed. How can we do this? By following the Law. If we transgress the Law and are not chastened:
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

God the Father, as a Father, has given us some rules to live by.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Here we have some of the things that are to be taught to the young wives. Notice the last two phrases," obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." They are to be obedient to their own husbands, so that God's Word be not blasphemed. Jesus is God's Word incarnate, if a wife is not obedient to her own husband then she is blaspheming God Himself! What a terrible consequence of disobedience, but is that not what all of our disobedience to God like, blasphemy? Yes.

1Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Some women may say, My husband is not saved, he wants me to sin. Let me ask you this, What is the Greater sin? To not obey your husband, or watch a tv show or movie you know is displeasing to God?
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jam 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Jam 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The facts of the matter are these God has commanded wives to submit to their own husbands. If you as a wife decide to disobey your own husband then you have been deceived by Satan, just as Eve was. Allow God to work in your life through submission to Him by your husband.