The Beauty of Biblical Submission
A Necessary Word Before We Begin
When many people read 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, it sounds like Paul is telling women
to “shut up” in church. That reading has caused confusion, pain, and in some cases real
harm. But that is not what Paul is doing.
In the same letter, Paul clearly affirms women praying and prophesying in the gathered
church (1 Corinthians 11:5). Scripture does not contradict itself. What Paul is addressing
in chapter 14 is disorder, interruption, and chaos in worship—not female participation.
Paul instructs three groups to be silent in this chapter:
- Tongue-speakers without an interpreter (v. 28)
- Prophets when another is speaking (v. 30)
- Women who were disrupting the evaluation of prophecy (vv. 34–35)
The issue is order, not gender.
The goal is edification, not silencing.
And the solution is submission, not suppression.
With that clarity in place, let’s step back and see the bigger biblical story of submission,
where the problem is not God’s design—but what sin did to it.
Love you, Church-
Pastor Mark
God’s Good Design
From the beginning, God established a beautiful design for men and women. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created humanity—male and female—in His own image. This affirms equal dignity, equal worth, and equal value before God. Neither reflects God
more fully than the other.
When Eve is called a “helper” in Genesis 2:18, the Hebrew word is ʿēzer, a term used
most often to describe God Himself as the helper of His people (Psalm 33:20; Psalm
70:5). Eve was not created as Adam’s assistant, but as his strong counterpart, bringing
what he lacked so that together they might fulfill God’s mission.
In Eden, leadership was loving, partnership was joyful, and submission flowed naturally
from trust in God. There was no fear, no competition, and no struggle for control—only
harmony.
How Sin Broke Harmony (Genesis 3:16)
Sin shattered that harmony.
In Genesis 3:16, God describes—not prescribes—the tragic fallout of sin:
“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
The Hebrew word for “desire” is tĕshûqâh, which also appears in Genesis 4:7 where
sin’s desire is to control Cain. The meaning is not affection—it is a pull toward control.
Because of sin:
- The woman’s desire becomes distorted toward control over her husband
- The man’s leadership becomes distorted toward domination over his wife
This is crucial:
BOTH are damaged by sin.
NEITHER is innocent.
The woman is tempted to seize leadership rather than trust it.
The man is tempted to misuse leadership rather than steward it.
What once was mutual submission under God becomes a power struggle between
sinners. Identity fractures. Trust erodes. Love becomes conditional. This is not God’s
design—it is sin’s corruption.
Jesus Brings Peace and Healing
Jesus came to repair what sin destroyed.
He treated women with dignity in a culture that often dismissed them. He spoke with
them publicly, taught them deeply, entrusted them with truth, and welcomed them as
disciples. At the same time, He redefined leadership—not as control, but as sacrifice.
Galatians 3:28 reminds us that in Christ we are one—not erased but restored. Jesus
does not remove distinction; He redeems relationship.
At the cross, Jesus bore the curse of Genesis 3. He absorbed domination, violence, and
pride—and rose again to create a new humanity marked by humility and love.
What Submission Really Means
Submission is not weakness.
Submission is strength under authority.
The Greek word used in Ephesians 5:21 is hypotassō, meaning to arrange under, to
willingly yield, or to align oneself. It is a voluntary posture, not a forced one.
Biblical submission is:
- Chosen, not coerced
- Rooted in love, not fear
- Shaped by Christ, not culture
Jesus Himself is the model. Philippians 2:8 tells us He “humbled Himself”
(tapeinoō)—a word meaning to lower oneself willingly. Jesus submitted to the Father,
not because He was less, but because He loved more.
Equal in Value, Distinct in Role
Submission does not imply inequality. Scripture never teaches that women are lesser
beings. Men and women are equal heirs of grace (1 Peter 3:7).
In marriage, roles exist not for hierarchy, but for harmony. The husband is called to lead
as Christ leads—through sacrifice, gentleness, and accountability before God. The wife
is called to support and respect that leadership—not blindly, but wisely.
Paul’s warning in 1 Peter 3:7 is severe: husbands who fail to honor their wives will find
their prayers hindered. God does not bless leadership that crushes—it condemns it.
Submission Is for All of Us
Submission is not a “women’s issue.”
It is a Christian issue.
All believers submit:
- To God
- To Scripture
- To spiritual authority
- To one another
Ephesians 5:21 sets the tone before any marriage roles are addressed. Mutual
submission is the soil from which healthy leadership and joyful support grow.
When submission is removed, chaos follows. When submission is embraced, peace
flourishes.
Reflecting Jesus Through Submission
Jesus—the Lord of glory—knelt to wash feet. He did not cling to status. He did not
demand His rights. He served others.
Submission looks like refusing selfishness.
Submission looks like choosing peace.
Submission looks like Jesus.
A home shaped by submission is safe.
A church shaped by submission is strong.
A life shaped by submission is free.