Page 29

Carmen J. Bryant, August, 2002

Appendix

What is submission?

Some considerations about the biblical teachings on submission and authority

1. To submit, in most cases, means to put one's self voluntarily and humbly under

another person's authority or leadership. It is to be contrasted with subjection that
comes from the top down. Since these are flash words in our society, the wise
teacher will avoid mixing the terms indiscriminately. (Eph. 5:21-24, Col. 3:18)

2. Submission is not carried out the same way in all elements of society. Some

established authorities, operating under law, have the right to enforce submission
of those under them, e.g., the government and the military. But these are not the
analogies used to describe authority and submission in the family. The New
Testament analogy is based on Christ's relationship to the church for which he
died--a relationship established on grace and love. (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 5:1-2, 23-33;
Tit. 2:11-14)

3. Submission to God is to be total. He is the ultimate authority and Master, the

sovereign Lord of us all. (Exod. 20:3, Matt. 4:10, 23:8-10)

4. Submission to human authority is partial. No one can serve two masters, and

obedience to the Master of the universe must take precedence. As long as divine
authority and human authority (leadership) agree in what is to be done, there
should be no conflict. (Matt. 6:24)

5. When human authority comes into conflict with God's authority, God wins. In

this case, submission to human authority means humbly and respectfully refusing
to follow orders of the one who is out of God's will. (Acts 4:19, 5:21; Tit. 3:1-2)

6. Each person bears the responsibility of his or her own sin. In other words, the one

in authority does not take on the sin of someone "under" him, even if that sin has
been performed at his command. The one in authority is guilty of misusing his
authority in causing someone else to sin, and the one under authority is guilty for
disobeying God's command and giving in to that human authority. (Ps. 49:7;
Ezek. 18; Rom. 2:6-11, 3:22-24, 14:10-12)

7. In cases where clear commands of God are not involved, submission involves

giving deference to another. Submission and humility go together. Mutual
Christian submission involves two (or more) persons acting in humility together,
searching for God's wisdom while still recognizing the proper role of the head
(which is united to the rest of the body). This is the kind of submission that is
expected in marriage. (Eph. 5:15-21, Phil. 2:1-11; 1 Pet. 3:7-12, 5:5)