Submit to One Another: The Biblical Push Towards Radical Equality

Send us Fan MailSubmit to One Another: The Biblical Push Towards Radical Equality “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” - Ephesians 5:21How many sermons and Bible lessons have started with “Wives submit to your husbands…” (Ephesians 5:22) without looking at the verse immediately above it? Most if not all of the writings included in The Bible were written during periods of extreme inequality, during patriarchal times, to people with patriarchal views. If we are not careful with will pick up on the patriarchal context and miss the push towards radical equality. In a context where women had relatively few legal rights and were largely seen as a possessions, the writer of Ephesians puts forward the then radical notion that married couples need to submit to one another. Yet, the sexiest interpreters start at “Wives submit to your husbands.” In a context where men were seen as the head of their households, the writer of Ephesians redefines what being  head of household means in such a way that it robs the patriarch of all his power to abuse. A lot of sexist men and their women enablers miss point. The arc of the scriptures point us towards radical equality and inclusion in ways many of us aren’t ready to hear. Let those of us with ears hear it anyway. Support the show