Discover Together Ephesians: Walk Worthy in Relationships, Eph. 5:21-6:9

Submission. That is not a word many women like to hear. Maybe it's because we've been told that, because we are women, we must submit. Men don't have to.

But what does the Bible really say? I was surprised at the Greek Sue revealed in our video for this lesson. The Greek word translated as “submission” is hupotasso, hupo, “come under,” and tasso, “to marshal troops or arm.” Sue takes this to mean that the wife comes under in preparation for a battle. Submitting for the wife means teaming up with her husband in a spiritual battle that they both face in this world. The wife comes under the husband to lift him up for the battle.

But God asks something of the husband too. He is to love his wife and sacrifice for her the same way Christ sacrificed for the church. This is reciprocal love.

For me, this brings new meaning to Ephesians 5:21 where Paul tells us we are to submit to one another. That means I will come under you and help you in your spiritual battle and you will do the same for me.

And another thought Sue brings out in the workbook. In Eph. 5:22, the words “submit yourselves” are not in the original Greek. The words were added by the translators. As Sue notes, Eph. 5:21,22 should actually read: “Submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God – wives, unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” More recent translations do not distinguish words added by translators. That's why I prefer a translation like the NASB. Words added by the translators are clearly identified as they are printed in italics. That is something to think about when you are buying your next Bible.

This week's lesson certainly have given me food for thought about what it means to submit. Listen to Sue's presentation (link below). Does that give you any new thoughts about submission in the body of Christ?

Watch the Lesson 8 video by Sue Edwards here.

You find out more about the study series at www.discovertogetherseries.com and see the video clips at www.discoveryseries.net. You can follow the discussion on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DiscoverTogetherSeries.

You can also read my comments on the Introduction, Lesson One, Lesson Two, Lesson Three, Lesson Four, Lesson Five, lesson Six, and Lesson Seven.

Sue Edwards is an associate professor of Christian education at Dallas Theological Seminary. She brings over thirty years of experience to the classroom as a Bible teacher, curriculum writer, and overseer of several women's ministries. She is the author or co-author of several books. She has a D.Min. From Gordon-Conwell theological Seminary and a master's in Bible from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband have been married for forty years, have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Kregel Publications, 127 pages. See the publisher's product page for more information about the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Open Book Promotion for the purpose of blogging this study.