The Myth of Mutual Submission, part 2

In a previous post, I cited to you Stu Webber’s book “The Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart.” Webber in pages 75 and 76 dismisses “mutual submission” (also known as “egalitarianism”) as being un-Biblical.

Essentially, people who hold this view believe that husbands and wives should submit to one another, and not just wives submitting themselves to their husbands. They say that “there is no unique authority or leadership role for the husband in a marriage,” and that “men and women are equal and carry responsibilities in both the home and church which are mutual or interchangeable between the sexes.”

Main argument against mutual submission

The traditional (read that “conservative”) view is known as “complementarianism” which holds that “while men and women are equal before God, they serve him in complementary roles which are not always identical and in some cases ought not to be.”

As Webber stated in his book, the main argument against “mutual submission” is that you cannot find a verse in the New Testament explicitly telling husbands to submit to their wives. On the other hand, wives are explicitly told in several instances to submit to their husbands.

Ephesians 5

22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Colossians 3

18. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Titus 2

5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1 Peter 3

1. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

The quotes I used above are from two articles which I highly recommend to you. These articles are:

1. The Myth of Mutual Submission by Wayne Grudem, Ph.D

2. Christ-Centered Marriages: Husbands and Wives Complementing One Another by Chad Brand

Essentially, Grudem says that “the whole idea of mutual submission as an interpretation of ‘be subject to one another’ in Ephesians 5:21 is terribly mistaken idea.” He also states that “it can be advocated only by failing to appreciate the precise meanings of the Greek words for ‘be subject to’ and ‘one another.’” Grudem concludes that “the idea of mutual submission in marriage (is) a myth without foundation in Scripture at all.”

Brand, on the other hand, says that people who preach mutual submission “hijack” the Bible in order to make it fit their egalitarian viewpoint. He says, “Texts are either accepted, rejected, ignored, or revised according to the way they fit in with that motif. But this is a mistake of the greatest gravity. The revisionist position does not of itself arise from Scripture. Rather, it is plain that while the Bible teaches full equality, it does not affirm egalitarianism or interchangeability in all things, but rather calls for distinguishable roles between men and women.”

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