Submission and Mutual Support in Christian Marriage Relationships
Submission and Mutual Support in Christian Marriage Relationships
The concept of submission in Christian marriage is rooted in biblical teachings, particularly in Ephesians 5:21-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7. According to Ephesians 5:21, Christians are called to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" [3]. This mutual submission is the foundation for the specific instructions given to wives and husbands.
In Ephesians 5:22-33, wives are instructed to submit to their husbands "as unto the Lord" [1]. This submission is not about inferiority but about order and respect within the marriage relationship. The passage emphasizes that husbands are to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loves the Church [5]. Similarly, 1 Peter 3:1 advises wives to be subject to their husbands, even if they are unbelievers, as a means of potentially winning them over through their conduct [2].
The biblical concept of submission in marriage is not one-sided. Husbands are also given a significant responsibility: to love their wives. Ephesians 5:25 instructs husbands to "love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" [1]. This selfless love is a cornerstone of Christian marriage, emphasizing the mutual support and respect that should characterize the relationship.
The idea of mutual submission and support is further underscored by the biblical description of the wife as a "help-meet" or "helper suitable" for her husband, as noted in Easton's Bible Dictionary referencing Genesis 2:18-20 [4]. This understanding highlights the complementary nature of the marital relationship, where both partners are called to support and submit to one another in their respective roles.
Different Christian traditions interpret these biblical teachings in their discussions on marriage. For instance, the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of mutual submission and the specific duties of wives and husbands, grounding these in the broader Christian principle of submitting to one another [6]. Similarly, Protestant academic interpretations, such as those found in the Tyndale House commentary on Ephesians and 1 Peter, stress the reciprocal nature of the marital relationship and the importance of love and respect [5, 7].
The historical development of the doctrine of submission in Christian marriage has been influenced by various factors, including biblical teachings, ecclesiastical traditions, and cultural contexts. Understanding the biblical basis and the historical interpretations can provide a deeper insight into the concept of submission and mutual support in Christian marriage relationships.
The biblical teachings on submission and mutual support in marriage continue to shape Christian understanding and practice today, emphasizing a relationship characterized by love, respect, and mutual consideration.
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:24 (Geneva1599) — Therfore as the Church is in subiection to Christ, euen so let the wiues be to their husbands in euery thing.”
- I Peter “I Peter 3:1 (BSB) — Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:21 (BSB) — Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Help-meet — (Heb. ezer ke-negdo; i.e., "a help as his counterpart" = a help suitable to him), a wife (Gen. 2:18-20).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:22: 5:22-33 Christian wives are to submit to their husbands, showing them respect. Equally important, Christian husbands are to love their wives (see Col 3:18-19). Christian marriages become a reflection of the union and relationship between the Lord and the church. 5:22 Submission is part of the life to which the wives’ Christian commitment calls them (see 1 Cor 11:3-10; 14:34-35; Col 3:18; 1 Tim 2:11-12; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1-6).”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:21: Here the apostle begins his exhortation to the discharge of relative duties. As a general foundation for these duties, he lays down that rule Eph 5:21. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens: not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. Paul was an example of this truly Christian temper, for he became all things to all men. We must be of a yielding and of a submissive spirit, and ready to all the duties of the respective places and st”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 3:1: 3:1-7 The last of Peter’s three exhortations about accepting authority (2:13–3:7) concerns wives and husbands (cp. Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19). 3:1 accept the authority of (literally submit to): Wives are instructed to acknowledge that God has appointed the husband as head of the relationship (see 2:13; Eph 5:22-25). Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience (see 1 Pet 3:6). God also intends the husband to be a loving and respectful head (3:7; see Eph 5:25-30). However, Peter focuses especially on wives with pagan husbands who would potentially be h”