Skip to main content

THIS ISSUE OF SUBMISSION (2) | Sisters' Corner

(Continuing from where we stopped. Read the previous post here)

Addressing the Scriptures Usually Quoted

I: Peter's Sayings

1Pet 3:1-2 (MKJV) “Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the Word, they may also be won without the Word by the conduct of the wives, having witnessed your chaste behaviour in the fear of God.”
1Pet 3:7a (MKJV) “Likewise, husbands, live together according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife as to the weaker vessel.”
In understanding the first scripture, we need to observe certain things. First, notice the word “Likewise…” Likewise what? What was it that the apostle was making comparisons to? We will find the answer if we go back to 1Pet. 2:18 and read downward. Peter was essentially saying, “wives, be in subjection to your own husbands just like a servant is in subjection to his master.” This agrees with Genesis 3:16a – “To the woman He [God] said, ‘…your desire shall be toward your husband, and he shall rule over you.’ “
Second, 1Pet.3:1-2 shows clearly that Peter was addressing wives with unbelieving husbands especially. Now, while we do not expect a believing lady to marry an unbelieving husband, we know that it is possible that two people will get married as unbelievers only for the wife (or any one of them) to repent later. Peter apparently was teaching the women in such position the way to win their husbands over to Jesus.
In verse 7, Peter enjoins husbands to treat (give honour to) their wives AS to the weaker vessel. Notice: HE DID NOT SAY women (wives) are weaker than men (their husbands); he only said that men should treat women as they would treat a weaker vessel – carefully, delicately and considerately. Even very “strong” women will improve in their effectiveness when they get such a treatment from their husbands (and men, generally). We must be careful in our interpretation of Scripture not to imply or believe what the Bible did not teach.

II: Paul's Sayings

Col 3:18 (GW) “Wives, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. This is appropriate behaviour for the Lord's people.”
Tit 2:4-5 (ASV) “Train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
1Cor 14:34-37 (MKJV) “Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church. …If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or a spiritual one, let him recognize the things I write to you, that they are a commandment of the Lord.”
Eph 5:22-24 (RV) “Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church ... as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. ”
Paul as a pioneer missionary to heathen nations was many a time concerned with the image that believers project in their community, with how the community perceives his flock (check out the following instructions given by Paul in Col.4:5-6, Rom.14:14-17, 1Tim.6:1-2 etc.). That understanding will help us a lot in understanding Paul’s point. Remember Peter’s warning concerning Paul’s epistles? (See 2Pet. 3:16)
Paul was addressing a church in a community that already has certain norms. He was only training his church to live in such a way that will not bring a bad name to God. The truth remains that unbelievers in our environment have certain expectations from Christians, and we will do well not to allow the Name of the Lord to be blasphemed as we exercise our “liberty in Christ.”
Note that even though Jesus (our ONLY Perfect Example) usually challenged existing standards and practices by his actions and teachings, we could still find one or two instances where he conformed to the status quo. (See Matt.17:24-27 and 8:4) There are times when we should conform to societal standards – those ones that have no negative spiritual implications. Such “compromises” here and there can be very strategic to the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Before we get through with Paul, we need to look at one more instruction from him. In 1Tim.2:12-16, Paul indeed forbade women from teaching in the church (in public worship); however, verse 14 shows clearly that he was writing from the standpoint of the Fall of Man.
Gladly, many believing women today have come to ignore that injunction – having recognised that GOD’s promise, which WAS fulfilled at Pentecost, was to pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh; such that “your sons and your DAUGHTERS shall prophesy [speak under inspiration]; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men AND WOMEN. (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18)”
(See our earlier series: How to Study the Bible More Effectively 1 and;2 here and here.)
To be continued…

(Read the final part here)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Re: New Creation Realities. What Do I Do?

The theme, New Creation Realities , is one of the more popular preaching themes in recent times. Usually, teachers of this theme fall into two categories: One: those who promote our new reality in Christ in such a way that it appears that Sin and Backsliding are no longer things to worry about in this era of Grace. The other: those who, in a bid to counter or correct the perceived errors of the first group, promote the reality and consequences of Sin and Backsliding so much that Grace is only given lip service. There is - or ought to be - a third category. This category, which I consider most important and most relevant for us believers, focus the light on what we ought to do. The first category focuses on what God has done and suggests - intentionally or not - that we have nothing else to do. The second category tries too hard to correct the first, thereby making it look like what Christ did nothing. In the past few years of contact with Christians, I'm willing to bet tha...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Land a Good Job Without Experience

Three times every year, tens of thousands of our young people are flushed into the labour market. Majority hope and pray to get a job. However, the supply or manpower is much higher than the demand; as a result, many employers raise the bar unnecessarily high to limit the size of the pool. One common one is Years of Experience. Another one is Age. Only very few firms have a genuine provision for fresh graduates today. We’ll look at Scripture – the story of David – for useful tips on how to land a good job with zero years of experience. Job Vacancy So there was this vacancy in a company called “The Army of Israel.” The job role is simple: kill Goliath. The remuneration: you’ll marry the king’s daughter and everyone in your family will never have to pay tax. (Sounds to me like a very good retirement package). David the Shepherd Boy Once upon a time, there was war in Israel. David’s elder brothers were part of Israel’s army. One day, David, at the instruction of his dad, went...
Post a Comment
Read more

How (Not) To Discover Your Purpose In Life

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 1:9 When you’ve been around as long as I have, you can look back over your life and note the events that changed your perspective and influenced how things turned out for you. They’re called turning points. They’re few and far between, and with good reason. Too many and your life would be one big chaotic mess. Of maybe five or six major turning points that truly influenced the outcome for me, one stands apart. And I’m going to share it with you because it just might make a real difference for you, as it did for me. I’m not exactly a bible scholar, but I do have a thing for the simple poetic wisdom of the Book of Ecclesiastes. I actually have my own versions of some of its key messages that I recite from time to time, including this one: The longer you live and the wiser you become, the more you’ll realize how littl...
Post a Comment
Read more