SUB·MISSION

References: Genesis 2&3 AMP, Ephesians 5 AMP, Enduring Word Bible Commentary

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This term provokes fear and makes some go into fight or flight mode. I been there. My thinking was man was superior over me and man was always right because of the fall in Genesis. So essentially, when anyone would say, “You have to submit to your husband,” my eyes would secretly roll in a way of saying, “Yea, whatever.” Not knowing, I was giving pride a seat at the table of my life. Yikes! I’m free now.

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Ephesians gives instructions and the idea of what marriage should look like from the mold of Christ and the Church. The funny thing is, if you read the Amplified Bible, there are these titles. The title at the beginning of Ephesians 5 is, “Be Imitators of God,” teaching us how to be like Him and take up His ways. Then and only then, does it go into marriage and the wonderful word of submission.

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Ephesians 5 starting at verse 22 AMP, starts off strong, “Wives, be subject to your own husband, as [a service] to the Lord.” (Other versions say Wives submit.) Many of us gasp after the first few words and skip the last part. Then it really just goes downhill, so we think, when it then says, “…husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church.” Back then, I probably closed my Bible at the point. Haha. I’m delivered now.

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I believe this is a beautifully written scripture now from what I have learned. Let me share…

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Let’s break down the term “submission.”

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Sub: beneath

Mission: an important assignment carried out; the vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith

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From that I understood that the scripture was expressing to the wives to agree (submit) to the assignment placed upon the marriage and be of service: being imitators of God, essentially, obeying and glorifying God. Husbands making sure wife stays near The Father and away from sin, and vise versa, so we won’t have another Eve moment.

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If Eve stayed near Adam, who was near to God, the serpent would not have had room to speak to Eve. Adam would have stepped in quickly.

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Someone: Why didn’t Adam step in anyway?

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Adam was most likely probably working and doing what God told him to do. He was consumed with the assignment God placed on him. Eve stepped out of assignment. Eve ate the apple and it did nothing to her until she shared it with Adam, the head. Adam probably thought it was a regular apple that she was offering him because he seen her to be help and not harm, so he ate it. Then their eyes were open. Lord!