In the first century, Christianity gave women more social rights than they had ever known. Women were valued, educated, worshipped with men, and could build positions of power – all things that did not happen in the ancient world for women. So why did Paul day women are to submit to their husbands?
Paul gives different instructions to different people. He starts with the men, who should strive to be godly. It is much easier to submit to a godly man. He then instructs the women to be godly and submit to their husbands. This is so that Christian women, who had a ton of new rights, would not go too far and seek to domineer their husbands (part of the Fall, see Genesis 3:16). This is also so that they will not bring shame on our faith.
The goal is to follow Jesus in all things, including our marriages. Husbands are not to dominate their wives, but to submit to Jesus and cherish their wives always. Wives are not to dominate their husbands, but to follow Jesus and respect their husbands. This is God’s plan for all cultures and generations.
Titus 2:1-8
1As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.
3Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.a Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,b to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
6In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
There is no faster way to silence a room of ladies than to say the word, “submission.” The buzz stops, the clock stops ticking, heads turn and eyes are focused on the speaker. What is it about this word that stirs the emotions? People submit to people and things everyday including their boss, their parents, their work, their tv, their spouse. Whoa, stop, what did you say–the last one is unacceptable to our 21st century culture. Submissive people in our society are viewed as weak, helpless, and unintelligent, the exact opposite, of powerful, independent, savvy, and brainy–adjectives used to describe corporate executives. Well “power up” people, Jesus submitted to the cross for being a “righteous” man not to mention the Son of God. Because he suffered cruelty and injustice for me I can “freely” submit to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and yes my husband. Is it easy to submit? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Was it easy for Jesus to submit to the cross? Gal.2:20 “I’ve been crucified with Christ and I know longer live, the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and has given himself for me. The bottom line—Jesus asks each of us male and female to “submit” to each other Phil. 2:3; He also asks us to “surrender,” our will to His, no exemptions.