Wives Submit to Your Own Husbands

Colossians 3:18

I. Our Worthy Savior: Chapters 1-2A. Introduction 1:1-12

B. Christ is Supreme 1:13-29

C. Complete in Christ 2:1-23

II. The Worthy Walk: Chapters 3:1-4:6A. The worthy personal walk with Christ 3:1-17

B. The worthy walk with Christ in the home 3:18-21

C. The worthy walk with Christ at work 3:22-4:1

D. The worthy spiritual walk with Christ 4:2-6

III. Closing: 4:7-18

Wives, submit to your husbands: Christ is the example

Husbands, love your wives: Christ is the example

Children, obey your parents: Christ is the example

Slaves, obey your masters: Christ is the example

Masters, grant your slaves justice: Christ is the example

Volition: Genesis 2:15-17

Marriage: Genesis 2:18-25

Family: Genesis 1:28

Labor: Genesis 2:4-9, 15

Government: Genesis 9:6

Colossians 3:18-4:1

Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pt 2:13-15

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:18

Wives (plural): all the believing married women in the Church

Your husbands: Not to men in general, but rather to your OWN husband

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:18

Be subject (ὑποτασσω hypotassō, present MIDDLE imperative). BDAG: To cause to be in a submissive relationship, to

subject, to subordinate Subject oneself

Middle voice: doing this for her own good, or of her own volition.

Being subject is not a negative idea Christ subjected Himself (Luke 2:51)

Wives are to submit to the leading of the husband 1 Peter 3:1-4

Titus 2:3-5

Ephesians 5:22-24

Women play the same role in the Church 1 Corinthians 14:34

1 Timothy 2:9-12

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:18

Fitting (ἀνηκω anēkō imperfect active indicative) Proper, within the guidelines of Scripture

Similar to submitting to governments, i.e. Daniel

Imperfect tense A past action portrayed as ongoing

Go Back to Genesis

Man (Adam) created first, Genesis 2:7, 15-17

It was not good for him to be alone, Genesis 2:18-20

Helper (‘ēzer), help or succor, aid, support Woman’s created role is that of helper

God is ‘ēzer Exodus 18:4

Psalm 121:1-2

Psalm 124:8

Psalm 146:5

Context is home and Church Equal image bearers, Genesis 1:27

Different roles, Genesis 2:18

Proverbs 31 Primary concern is the “household”

Husband “in the gates”

God is one, Deuteronomy 6:4-5

1 Timothy 2:5

God is Three in One Colossians 1:3, 3:17, John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 3:16

Christ submitted to the Father Matthew 26:39

John 5:19

Holy Spirit submits to the Son John 16:12-15

Mark 10:42-45 “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the

Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Created to be a helper

Created to be in a position of voluntary submission

Created to be a picture of the Trinity

She has to do this in a fallen world