Wife: The first area of Christian submission is marriage.[1] A Spirit-filled wife manifests her godliness by willingly placing herself[2] under the authority of her own husband.[3] She does this because “the husband is the head of the wife.” This is what God has ordained. This means her motivation for submission is not pragmatism, but God’s design.[4] Paul also shows the scope of submission: in all areas of life (“in everything”). This includes finance, ministry, child-rearing, family relationships, work, etc. Now, this is not to say that everything the husband wants is the will of God. If he should ever tell her to violate the Word of God, she is to disobey him and obey the Lord instead. Her supreme master and love is the Lord,[5] but her modus operandi is marital submission.

Church: The church exists to advance, not our own will or our members’ will, but the will of Christ. He is our head and authority and we willingly carry out His Word.[6] Paul is passionate about Christ and the church, and so he interjects the truth that Christ is our Savior. He then returns to the issue at hand[7] and points the ladies to look to the church as the model for them to follow. May our church be a worthy example that earnestly obeys and honors our head.

[1] In the Greek, 5:22 has no verb and instead continues the participial clause of 5:21 (“submitting yourselves to one another…”). This is the first of three examples of Christian submission that Paul addresses in 5:22-6:9.

[2] As ESV and NKJV render it, this verb is best rendered in the middle voice, highlighting a willing submission.

[3] This is not a submission to men in general. In terms of submission to elders, that is for doctrine and practice (Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 2:11; Heb. 13:7, 17), and even with that, her husband is to be involved (1 Cor. 14:35).

[4] She submits to him not because he is smarter than her, or more spiritual, or is a better leader or has greater earning power, etc. She submits to him because he is her head by God’s design (Gen. 2:18-22; 1 Cor. 11:3).

[5] She is to live a spiritually vibrant life (1 Pet. 3:2-4) and her marital submission stems from her submission to the Lord (“as to the Lord”). God’s priority is first the Lord (5:10, 17; Matt. 10:37) then others (Matt. 22:37-39).

[6] God gave to the church Christ as head over all things (1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18). The church carries out His will under the leadership of His under-shepherds and household managers (4:11-12; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).

[7] Ecclesiology is the main thrust of Ephesians; hence, Paul repeatedly gravitates toward it (5:23-24, 32-33).