wives – Ministry of Grace Church

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Truth to Learn

God has a perfect plan for the marriage relationship.

Behind the Words

The word translated “wives” is gunē, which means “a woman.” It also is used throughout the New Testament to indicate a woman who is engaged to, or married to, a man. This is the word used in referring to “the bride (woman) of the Lamb of God” (see Revelation 19:7; 21:9).

“Submit” is translated from hupotassō, which we encountered in yesterday’s verse, meaning “to under-rank oneself.” It is expressed here in the middle voice, indicating something done by the subject (wives) to the subject (wives).

The words “your own” are from idios, indicating something that is private and personal (as opposed to public or common).

“Husbands” is from the Greek word anēr, which specifically refers to “an adult male person;” that is “a man.” It is also used throughout the New Testament to mean “a husband.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one which causes a lot of women to bristle, particularly in this post-modern world of feminism. It has been misinterpreted and often misapplied, so let’s see what it does say and what it doesn’t say.

Paul started out this chapter commanding us to be “imitators of God” and to “walk in love.” Then, throughout this chapter he has given us teaching on how to do that and how to behave within the body of Christ, teaching us what to do and what to avoid. In verse eighteen he said to avoid getting drunk, but to be filled with the Spirit. As we are Spirit-filled, we will exhibit three evidences of that filling: singing praise to God, being thankful, and submitting to one another within the church.

He now takes the remainder of this chapter to talk about the relationship between a husband and a wife. Since he has just been talking about submission, he starts off with this subject. He says that wives are to “under-rank themselves with respect to their husbands.” He is not saying that a husband is any better or more important than his wife. He is not saying that a woman is to be her husband’s submissive slave. He is simply stating that in God’s plan for mankind there is an order of authority. This is another area of life where our sin nature and the world system fight against what God says is right.

Paul’s teaching on submission within the family is not conditional, it is absolute. And, it is something that a wife does to herself; it is not something done to her. Abuse within a marriage, whether physical or emotional, is contrary to God’s design. Anyone in such a relationship needs to seek out a counselor with appropriate social and spiritual training.

Also, note that Paul says wives are to submit to “their own husbands.” He is not saying that all women are to submit to all men. This voluntary act of submission is part of the private, personal relationship that a man and woman have.

Since this is such a potentially contentious teaching, Paul will spend several verses explaining it, along with a command regarding how husbands are to treat their wives.

Application

For some women, submitting to their husband is easy, for others it is very difficult. If you find it hard to do, prayerfully lay it before the Lord and He will guide you in love.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 3:1

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

Truth to Learn

Submission is one part of God’s plan for marriages.

Behind the Words

“Wives” is translated from gunē, meaning “a woman” or “a wife” (see Revelation 19:7).

The word “husbands” is from anēr, meaning “a man” or “a husband.”

The words “your own” are a translation of the Greek word idiois, meaning “that which is specifically one’s own.” Hence, wives are to be submitted to their own husband, not to any husband.

The word translated “submissive” is from hupotassō, which we have recently learned has the meaning “under rank.” It is expressed here not as a command, but as a passive participle. Hence, Peter is saying, “Wives being submitted to …”

Meaning Explained

In the middle of the previous chapter Peter began a theme of submission, “submit unto every ordinance of man” and “servants submit yourselves to your masters.” The same idea appears in James’ letter to the church where we are instructed to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7).

Submission is a key in our battle against our enemy, the Devil. In each case this word refers to an act of our will, allowing our own wishes and desires to be subordinated to those of the one to whom we are submitting. This is contrary to our sin nature which wants to promote self. And, seeing self as number one is encouraged today through the messages being proclaimed by the word system, such as, “Do your own thing”, or “After all, I’m worth it”, or “Be you; do what you want to do.”

For a woman married to a godly man who is himself submitted to God, it may be easier to submit, though not always easy. For a woman married to an unsaved man or to a saved man who is not in submission to Christ, it is certainly much more difficult. However, Peter does not make an exception in these cases. He simply says that the conduct of a submissive woman may be the thing that God uses to reach her unbelieving husband.

Lest men think that this makes them any more important than their wives, let me remind you men that we are to be the spiritual leaders, able to answer doctrinal questions from our wives (1 Corinthians 14:35). We are to treat our wives as having great value (1 Peter 3:7). Twice we are commanded to love our wives with a self-sacrificing love (Ephesians 5:25 and Colossians 3:19) even to the point of dying for them, just as Christ died for the church. Incidentally, wives are never commanded to love their husbands in this manner. Men, this means that when you and your wife have an argument, it is up to you to sacrifice your own will and apologize to her for your inappropriate behavior, expecting nothing in return from her.

Application

In God’s church, the body of Christ, men and women have different roles. Neither is better than the other. Neither is superior to the other. In a marriage, wives are to be submitted to their husbands who are to love their wives. Both of these actions are commanded and neither one depends on the other.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: wives

Ephesians 5:22 – Sometimes It’s Difficult

Truth to Learn

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

1 Peter 3:1 – Submission & Love