Ephesians 5:21 – Subjection

… being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

In the Greek basic text you can clearly see that verse 18 to 21 forms one sentence. Being filled with (Gods) spirit is recognized in three things. In the first place in the singing and the music in the heart for the Lord. In the second place in thanking the God and Father about all things. And here comes the third characteristic: subjection to each other.

This verse is also the transition to a new part (5:22 – 6:9) in which Paul speaks about relationships within marriage (5:22-33), the family (6:1-4) and at work (6: 5-9). In all these areas there are relationships of authority in which one person would subject to the other. Women to their husbands, children, to their parents and slaves to their lords.

Authority and subjection are concepts that absolutely no longer understood today. Logical, because authority comes from above and at the highest level from GOD itself. As the motto of the French revolution goes: “No God, no master”. In 1 Corinthians 11:3 Paul shows four steps of the hierarchy: first God, then Christ, then man and then the woman. Christ himself recognizes his place of subjection to God. You can’t imagine a better example!

Delen: