The concept of submission is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting a divine order and structure within various relationships. The term "submits" and its derivatives are often associated with obedience, humility, and respect within the context of one's relationship with God, authority figures, and within familial and social structures.

Submission to God

Submission to God is foundational in the Christian faith. It involves recognizing God's sovereignty and aligning one's will with His divine purposes. James 4:7 instructs believers, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This verse highlights the importance of yielding to God's authority as a means of spiritual protection and victory over evil.

Submission in Human Relationships

1. Marital Relationships: The Bible outlines a framework for submission within marriage, emphasizing mutual respect and love. Ephesians 5:22-24 states, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." This passage is often discussed in the context of the complementary roles of husbands and wives, with the husband's role being one of loving leadership and the wife's role being one of respectful submission.

2. Parental Authority: Children are instructed to submit to their parents as a form of honoring them and obeying God's commandments. Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." This submission is seen as a way to cultivate discipline and respect within the family unit.

3. Church Leadership: Believers are encouraged to submit to church leaders, recognizing their role in spiritual guidance and oversight. Hebrews 13:17 advises, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account. Allow them to do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you."

4. Civil Authorities: The Bible also addresses submission to governmental authorities, viewing them as instituted by God for maintaining order and justice. Romans 13:1 declares, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God."

The Example of Christ

Jesus Christ exemplifies perfect submission through His obedience to the Father. Philippians 2:5-8 describes Christ's humility and submission: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." Christ's submission is the ultimate model for believers, demonstrating that true greatness is found in humility and obedience to God's will.

Conclusion

The biblical principle of submission is multifaceted, encompassing one's relationship with God, family, church, and society. It is portrayed not as a sign of weakness, but as a strength that aligns with God's divine order and reflects the character of Christ.5043. teknon -- a child (of either sex)
... heavenly Father. 5043 () emphasizes the childlike ( child) that willingly
(gladly) submits to the Father's plan. We profoundly learn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5043.htm - 7k

Here the Author Declares that He Submits all that He Has Written ...
... THE BOOK OF SUPREME TRUTH CHAPTER XIV. HERE THE AUTHOR DECLARES THAT HE SUBMITS
ALL THAT HE HAS WRITTEN TO THE JUDGMENT OF HOLY CHURCH. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xiv here the author.htm

Chapter xiv.
... therefore "either hate" this one, "and love the other," ie God; "or he will submit
to the one, and despise the other." For whoever serves mammon submits to a ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xiv 2.htm

Whether Confession is Necessary for Salvation?
... And just as a man through asking to be baptized, submits to the ministers of the
Church, to whom the dispensation of that sacrament belongs, even so, by ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether confession is necessary for.htm

But Perhaps Some one is Alarmed at Hearing us Discourse of the ...
... Presently thou wilt see Him of Whose death thou hearest once more immortal;
for the death to which He submits is about to spoil death. ...
/.../16 but perhaps some one.htm

Of the Conformity of Our Will to that Will of God's which is ...
... Now the love of complacency, beholding this divine desire, wills to please God by
observing it; the love of benevolence which submits all to God, consequently ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v of the conformity.htm

Whether Poverty of Spirit is the Beatitude which Corresponds to ...
... When a man submits himself to God, he no longer seeks to glory in himself, nor in
any other save God, since this would be incompatible with perfect submission ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article twelve whether poverty of.htm

Letter ccxix. To the Clergy of Samosata.
... 2. I am very anxious that you should know that he is great before God who humbly
submits to his neighbour and submits to charges against himself, without ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxix to the clergy.htm

That the Saints, by Suffering the First Death for the Truth's Sake ...
... For he submits to some part of death, for the very purpose of avoiding the
whole, and the second and eternal death over and above. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 8 that the saints by.htm

Whether a General Confession Suffices to Blot Out Forgotten Mortal ...
... to the remission of punishment, which it causes in virtue of the shame which it
includes, and by the power of the keys to which a man submits by confessing. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a general confession suffices.htm

An Unwalled City
... Jesus.'. He who submits himself to Christ is lord of himself as none else
are. He has a light within which teaches him what is sin. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/an unwalled city.htm

Submits (2 Occurrences)
...Submits (2 Occurrences). Ephesians 5:24 And just as the Church submits to Christ,
so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. ...
/s/submits.htm - 6k

Submit (36 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY DBY WBS NIV). Ephesians 5:24 And just as the Church submits to Christ,
so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. ...
/s/submit.htm - 17k

Submitted (8 Occurrences)

/s/submitted.htm - 9k

Wool (34 Occurrences)
... The purchaser of this washed wool submits it to a further washing with soap, ishnan
(alkali plant), "soapwort", or other cleansing agent (see FULLER), and then ...
/w/wool.htm - 21k

Entirely (39 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Ephesians 5:24 And just as the Church submits to Christ, so also married
women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. (WEY). ...
/e/entirely.htm - 18k

Ear (670 Occurrences)
... If the ear listens, the heart willingly submits, but often the spiritual ear is
"hardened" (Isaiah 6:10 Zechariah 7:11 Matthew 13:15 Acts 28:27), or "heavy ...
/e/ear.htm - 42k

Patiently (25 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 2:19 For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of
duty to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly. (WEY). ...
/p/patiently.htm - 14k

Appearance (126 Occurrences)
... formal entry by the proper officer to that effect; the act or proceeding by which
a party proceeded against places himself before the court, and submits to its ...
/a/appearance.htm - 41k

Submissive (12 Occurrences)
... Submissive (12 Occurrences). Ephesians 5:24 And just as the Church submits to Christ,
so also married women should be entirely submissive to their husbands. ...
/s/submissive.htm - 10k

Treated (69 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 2:19 For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of
duty to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly. (WEY). ...
/t/treated.htm - 26k

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