The first item I would ponder is what is being discussed before and after the verses? Let us take a look.

In Ephesians, the proceeding verses have the following phrases, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love." This is straightforward. Also.... “Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." I think this is important. God does not want us to be mindless dummies and give up our common sense.

The verse in 1Peter begins with, “In the same way." What same way....? “Put aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander...” “He (Jesus Christ) uttered not threats but kept entrusting Himself to God who judges righteously” These are important points to remember as we trod through this issue.

With that in mind, let’s look at the two verses that are used to substantiate this “Wives Submit” issue

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church.....

1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the words they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

It seems clear. The words “subject yourself “and “submissive” have some clear meanings. Or do they? I am not trying to rationalize, but to give some thought. It seems as though the husbands have dominion over their wives. Almost like an ownership. Naw..... no one would really say that, but it has a hint of these traits if I am honest with myself.

I guess I could take it to the degree of the wives not having a “Free Will”. At best, lack the condoned right to display it. “Subject yourself“ and “Submissive” bothers me. All this flies in the face of the lacking guile, hypocrisy, and even slander (1Peter) and makes me wonder about this being a trait of the children of God (Ephesians). Maybe they bother me cause I have not (will not) do the same with God. That does not fit, I do try. I am just not there (perfect). There is a dilemma.

What causes this dilemma is maybe my lack of understanding. You must remember I am not trained, have not gone to a Theological School and really lack the training to really say that my interpretation is valid. With that, if all things are equal, this HAS to be demonstrated in the Bible by Christ’s own actions. He came as an example. Since He is an example, I should be able to find these examples. Stay with me here. The subject matter is going to go off track but hopefully come back together at the end.

What did Christ’s personality and actions demonstrate? In summary they ALL processed love, humbleness, sympathy, honor, purity, sinlessness, harmony with God, lacked envy, and ill content. I could go on but you get the point. OK, let us face this one incident that seams to go slightly contrary to this.

That is the incident at the temple where He was angry. We all know anger. Of all the feeling that is the one we all know the best. Even more so than love, in my opinion. It seems we get to know this feeling to a greater degree and than anything else. Maybe this is so because we can take anger to a higher level with the least amount of effort. Hence, we know love and kindness (in general) to a lesser degree.

Lets look at Jesus’ anger. I don’t think His anger in this situation (or any other) is anything like the typical word calling, spittin’, fuming, blood boiling, ready to fight anger that we think about. If He always had love in His spirit and heart, this could not be an example of His anger. Then, what type of anger did Christ have? I ask you to consider this type.

How about the anger that comes with hurt, disappointment, loss, and discovery of a misuse of trust. Everyday examples could be the parents that have just heard their son has suddenly past away from unknown causes. The wife or husband who discovered their spouse dishonoring their relationship. I am not just referring to infidelity (though it applies) but anything that shakes the heart felt trust, unspoken loyalty or the honoring of each other. This is the anger that fits.

Jesus felt and insurmountable disappointment at the temple. It dishonored His Father. It broke a trust in man. Jesus’ inner anger did not come from man. His anger did not have the influence of society or the social climate of upbringing. His feeling has the unclouded purity that only God can provide. This makes the anger portrayed pure and free from malice toward anyone person. This places His anger on a completely different level. This also explains why He could HATE the sin and yet LOVE the sinner. This further explains how Jesus could still have love, humbleness, sympathy, honor, purity, sinlessness, harmony with God, and lacked envy and ill content.

Now with this I have to question the actual meaning of the words that I used to describe Jesus’ constant nature. I must admit to myself that the words “love, humbleness, sympathy, honor, purity, sinlessness, harmony with God, lack of envy and ill content” have a different meaning. I have no idea of the true magnitude, but I have a glimpse of the meaning. It has a much greater, much more pure, much more Godly meaning. It is just much more everything.

Now I can look at the words “subject yourself “and “submissive”. I must be careful not to minimize the magnitude. Where was Christ submissive? How about the garden before His Crucifixion? He did not want to go through with it. He made His free will known to God, “Let this pass from Me." He asked if there was another way. He submitted with the words, “Not My will, but Thy will be done." All this time He had purity. That is the example of submissive. This example does not fall apart in the verses that mention submissiveness and it does not negate the verses that precede it. What it does do it take the act submissiveness and subjectivness to a higher Godly honored level. I am not sure of I was a woman if I am ready for this task.

Let us look at the verses that follow these. Yea they are not mentioned much, but if we consider the wives, we must consider the husband. I think it says somewhere in the Bible that God has some viewpoint of them being one.

(Ephesians) - Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church a gave Himself for her. (1Peter) - You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the Grace of like so that your prayers may not be hindered. To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted and humble in spirit.

I am not going to tackle the “weaker vessel” thing. That is another topic. It can be viewed in much the same way as this item has been. However, look at what it says. It appears to be a two way street. Love your wife as Christ Loved the church. Grant the woman honor as a fellow heir of Grace. These are powerful words. It almost seems as though a husband is to treat his wife as if she was something more than an Ozzie and Harriet wife. Can’t believe I said that. A better meaning would be a Holy Pure Spiritual vessel. What an indictment on myself!!!!

I will summarize here and wrap this up. If you're not confused then you did well. The words “submit” and “subject yourself” do not have a worldly meaning. They are a pure holy meaning that is in the same vain as Christ’s submitting to God’s will for the Crucifixion.

The Husband has a path to follow as to how his wife is to be viewed. (live with your wives in an understanding way)

All are to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted and humble in spirit.

I wish to add. A man’s use of this verse is an indictment on him. For if, he was an example; the willingness and trust would be present. Then there would not be an issue.

God does not want us to be stupid. A wife submitting herself to a ruthless abusive husband is not a path. It is self-hatred.

We are to strive to be Christ like (Be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love).

Obviously, this just scratches the surface. But it begins the path.

Love you, Dad