What does Colossians 3:18 mean?

Explanation

The verse Colossians 3:18 instructs wives to submit to their husbands as appropriate for those who adhere to Christian beliefs ("as it is fit in the Lord").

The term "submit" means to place oneself under the authority of another. It implies a voluntary action of yielding one's own rights or will to another's guidance.

The phrase "as it is fit in the Lord" suggests that this submission is not without context but is shaped by what is deemed appropriate by Christian principles, which include mutual love and respect.

Historical Context

Colossians is an epistle or letter, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, written to the church in Colossae, a small city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

This letter was penned in the first century AD, a time when the societal norm was patriarchal.

In Greco-Roman culture, women were expected to be subservient to men; however, Paul's letters often infused traditional cultural prescriptions with new Christian meaning, implying revolutionary ideas of mutual submission and love within the household.

Theological Insights

Theologically, there are a variety of interpretations of Colossians 3:18.

Some traditional views uphold this verse as reinforcing a patriarchal structure within Christian marriage.

Others interpret the phrase "as it is fit in the Lord" to mean that submission is conditional upon treatment that reflects Christ's love and that the context of mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21-33 is important.

Egalitarian theology posits that these instructions were specific to the cultural context of the time and that the overarching biblical narrative points toward an inherent equality and partnership between husbands and wives.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can be explored in the context of marriage relationships. It encourages a posture of mutual respect and consideration, with the wife's submission reflected in trusting and respecting her husband's leadership within the framework of Christian principles.

The concept could also extend to the larger idea of mutual submission and respect among all members of a Christian community, emphasizing the dignity and value of each individual.

Cross-References

• Ephesians 5:22-25 (KJV): "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 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.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

• 1 Peter 3:1 (KJV): "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."
• Genesis 3:16 (KJV): "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the key word is "ὑποτάσσεσθε" (hypotassomai), which means to subject oneself, to obey, to submit to one's control.

The word is a middle voice verb which can signify a voluntary action. "ἀνήρ" (aner) is used for "husband", which can also mean man or male. "πρέπων" (prepon) refers to that which is appropriate or fitting, in this case, "as it is fit in the Lord."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Greek, Roman, and Jewish societies, patriarchy was the norm, with men holding legal and social authority over women. These cultural expectations are mirrored in religious literature from the period.

However, within the Christian texts, there's an introduction of mutual respect and love that, while not entirely eroding the societal expectation of the time, plants the seeds for a more equal partnership.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological and sociological research has shown the complex interplay of factors contributing to healthy relationships.

While the concept of one partner submitting to another can be controversial from a contemporary lens, research in relationship dynamics does point toward the importance of mutual respect, understanding, and negotiation between partners, which can be seen as aligned with a more nuanced interpretation of the verse.

Commentaries

Various experts and theologians provide different perspectives on this verse.

Some traditional commentators uphold the verse as an affirmation of a hierarchical marital structure.

Others, like those from an egalitarian standpoint, interpret Paul's instructions as culturally bound to the time he was writing, pointing to the Gospel's more radical equality.

Modern commentators often examine the verse through the lens of mutual love and submission within the Christian context, arguing that the focus should be on the partnership and loving service to one another that Christ exemplified.