Women Submissive to Men
The value of men and the value of women are perfectly equal in the eyes of God. The Bible teaches that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Yet, the fact that men and women have equal rights and access to salvation does not cancel the need for submission to leadership in the home or the church. The word of God teaches that “The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). Therefore, men should be loving leaders in their homes and churches. The Lord instructs, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them” (Colossians 3:19).
Before sin, God created man and woman differently. He made the man from dust, but He made the woman out of the man (Genesis 2:21, 22). And while God named the man, it was the man who named the woman. Adam said of Eve, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23; 3:20). After sin, God also established a system of authority in which man would lead. “Unto the woman He said … thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Genesis 3:16).
In the New Testament, Paul teaches the role of women and men and gives the explanation for it: “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:11–15).
The same message is given in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35: “Let your women keep silent in the churches… they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home…”, “That they admonish the young women to love their husbands… to be … obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:4, 5), and “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord…” (1 Peter 3:6).
Finally, Paul shows the divine hierarchy in submission: “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:23, 24). This passage continues with emphasizing that husbands should protect and give themselves up for their wives even as Christ gave Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
