Biblical Womanhood in a Postmodern Culture

1. Biblical Womanhoodin a Postmodern Culture Lesson 4 Biblical Womanhood in the Home (I)

2. 1PETER 3:1, 5 & 6 “Likewise wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives…. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.

3. EPHESIANS 5:22-24 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”

4. Three mis-used Scriptures Ephesians 5:21 – “… submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Galatians 3:28-29 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. 1 Peter 3:7 – “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

5. “Mutual Submission” (Ephesians 5:21) No author before 1968thought that “submitting to one another” makes the following passage means there is no unique male headship and authority in marriage. Ephesians 5:21 is to restrain authority, but not to nullify it.

6. What about Galatians 3:28-29? We are one in Christ. This does not cancel our distinctiveness.

7. What about 1 Peter 3:7? A beautiful picture of complementarity. Equal heirs of grace. A wife needs the protection of her husband.

8. Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

9. TITUS 2:4-5 …so train the young women to love their husbandsand children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

10. Before the Fall Genesis 2:18 – “Then God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” “HELPER” = HEBREW WORD ezer – helper fit for him

11. We must get over thinking that authority is a bad word. • Subordination is not denigration • Equality is not indistinguishability

12. Leaving and Cleaving The pattern for marriage – before the Fall One man and one woman The man is to leave and start his own family If the man cleaves, the wife cleaves Wife takes husband’s name

13. After the Fall Genesis 3:16b – “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” “DESIRE” = HEBREW WORDteshuqah – desire to conquer to usurp authority “RULE” = HEBREW WORDmashal– a strong term usually used of monarchical governments. Harshness rather than servant leadership .

14. Before & After the Fall Before “HELPER” = HEBREW WORD ezer – helper fit for him After “DESIRE” = HEBREW WORDteshuqah – desire to conquer “RULE” = HEBREW WORDmashal– a strong term usually used of monarchical governments. Harshness rather than kindness.

15. New Testament 1Peter 3:1 – “Likewsie, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.” “Be subject to” - Hupotasso –hupo, under; tasso, arrange [Vines] Hypotasso – Always implies a relationship of submission to an authority. [Grudem, Systematic Theology]

16. New Testament Ephesians 5:23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” Kephale– metaphorically, of the authority or direction of God in relation to Christ, of Christ in relation to believing men, of the husband in relation to the wife, of Christ in relation to principalities and powers. [Vines] - …people who have authority over others of whom they are the head. [Grudem]

17. Submission in Context

18. Submission is NOT • agreeing with everything your husband says. • leaving your brain or your will at the wedding altar. • avoiding every effort to change a husband. • putting the will of the husband before the will of Christ. • a wife getting her personal, spiritual strength primarily from her husband. • a wife acting out of fear.

19. Submission IS • The divine calling of a wife to honor & affirm her husband’s leadership & help carry it through according to her gifts. • The disposition to follow a husband’s authority. • An inclination to yield to his leadership. • An attitude that says, “I delight for you to take the initiative in our family.”

20. Errors of passivityBiblical idealErrors of aggressiveness H - Wimp Loving, humble Tyrant headship W - Doormat Joyful, intelligent Usurper submission

21. SUBMISSION TO YOUR OWN HUSBAND Is God’s good and perfect way Modeled in the Trinity – Rooted in creation Illustrates the gospel (Christ & the church) Validates God’s Word Draws others to Christ