Submission | Ephesians Study

Ephesians 5:21

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Submitting - NT:5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as'-so); from NT:5259 and NT:5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:

A quick search for the words used from the Greek word hupotasso shows us:

- Servants are to submit to their masters

"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;" (Titus 2:9)

"Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." (1 Peter 2:18)

- Civilians are to submit to political government (note: if it does not violate God's Word)

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." (Romans 13:1-2)

"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work," (Titus 3:1)

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." (1 Peter 2:13-14)

- Wives are to submit to their husbands

" Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Ephesians 5:23)

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." (Colossians 3:18)

"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus 2:5)

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; . . . For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:" (1 Peter 3:1, 5)

- The church is to submit to Christ

"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Ephesians 5:23)

- Believers are to submit to godly leaders in the church

"I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth." (1 Corinthians 16:15-16)

- Believers are to submit to God

"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:9)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

- Younger are to submit to elders

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

- Believers are to submit one to another

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

No one is exempt from submission. If you read all of the commands to submit, we all have someone to whom we are to submit - all should submit to God, and all should submit "one to another" and all should submit to civil authority and all should submit to Godly authority. James 4 and 1 Peter 5 indicates the attitude of submission: humility.

James 4:6-7

"But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7)

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Our pride automatically says, "I am not under anyone." But humility realizes that we are under authority - God given authority. If we refuse to place ourselves under the authority that God has given to us, how do we expect we will place ourselves under God's authority? To refuse to place ourselves under God-given authority is simply to rebel against God and disobey His commands.