Submission

God requires submission

From all people

Psalm 2:9–11 ESV

You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

See also Job 22:21; 1 Pe 5:6

From Christians especially

Matthew 6:9–10 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

See also Heb 12:9; Jas 4:7

The submission of Jesus Christ to his Father

Luke 22:42 ESV

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

See also Jn 5:19; Jn 12:49–50; 1 Co 15:27–28; Heb 5:7–8; Heb 10:5–7

The submissive spirit required in the church

In believers’ relationships with one another

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

See also Php 2:5–7

To Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:24 ESV

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

See also Eph 1:22–23; Col 1:18 As the body is subject to the head, so the church is subject to Christ.

To the Scriptures

Joshua 1:7–8 ESV

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

See also Ps 119:133; Col 3:15; Jas 1:22–25; Re 22:18–19

To church leaders

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

See also Ro 13:1; 1 Co 16:15–16; 1 Th 5:12–13

In prophecy

1 Co 14:32 The implication is that individual prophecies must be submitted to the overall judgment of the church.

The submission of all to civil government

Romans 13:1 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

See also Mt 22:21; Ro 13:2–7; Tt 3:1; 1 Pe 2:13–14

Submission within other relationships

Of wives to husbands

Ephesians 5:22–24 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

See also Col 3:18; Tt 2:4–5; 1 Pe 3:1; 1 Pe 3:5–6

Of children to parents

Ephesians 6:1–3 ESV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

See also Ex 20:12; Ga 4:2; Col 3:20

Of slaves to masters

Ephesians 6:5–8 ESV

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

See also Col 3:22–24; Tt 2:9–10; 1 Pe 2:18

Of young to old

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

See also Le 19:32

Reciprocal attitudes are commended to safeguard against abuse

Eph 5:25–33; Eph 6:4; Eph 6:9; 1 Ti 2:1–2; 1 Pe 5:1–4 Those in authority have a responsibility to set an example.