The Submissive Wife

Hey Pastor John,

I have a question related to this part of the Colossians reading this morning: “Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, as is appropriate in the Lord” (Col. 3:18).

Can you expand on that a little?  When Paul says, “as is appropriate in the Lord,” he is talking in a spiritual sense, correct?  Or could this be physical as well?

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The spiritual sense of every exhortation includes the physical.  The whole being, the whole life is involved when spiritual guidance is given.

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Does “appropriate” mean to the extent it does not take you outside of the will of God?

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Always.

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I am curious about that part.  I know that is not saying be submissive as the world views it.  Over the years, I had gained such a yuck for the word submissive, due to its misuse.  I know better now as I have grown with Jesus.  But I want to understand this a little better and my role as a newish wife. 

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Being submissive as a wife, especially to a godly husband, is a happy life.  The husband has the more challenging role from God because it requires more humility and wisdom for him to love his wife as Christ loves the saints (Eph. 5:25) than for the wife to be submissive.

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Also, is being a virtuous woman, the same thing as being a submissive wife?

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Not exactly.  Virtue includes doing all the will of God, not just the submissive part.  One description of a virtuous woman is found in Proverbs 31:10–31.

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Have enjoyed thinking on things like this lately! 

Thank you,

Margo 

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You are very welcome.  I am glad to know that you are thinking on these things.

Your servant.

Pastor John

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