submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 5:21
What does Ephesians 5:21 mean?
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Ephesians 5:21
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The verse doesn't just say to submit, but that this submission should happen "one to another." This radical idea means that everyone in Christ is called to mutual deference, not just those in subordinate roles, flipping the script on worldly power dynamics. This mutual submission is rooted not in obligation or mere politeness, but in a deep "reverence for Christ," meaning our respect for each other stems from our respect for Him.
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is shifting from encouraging believers to live in love and gratitude towards God to outlining how that translates into their relationships with each other. He's about to detail specific household responsibilities, but before that, he lays down a foundational principle: mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. This sets the stage for understanding the subsequent instructions not as oppressive rules, but as expressions of Christ-centered respect within various relationships.
This verse starts with a surprising command: submitting to one another. But what's the fuel for this kind of radical humility, especially when it can feel so unnatural?
Paul grounds this principle of mutual submission in 'reverence for Christ.' This isn't just about avoiding trouble or keeping the peace; it's about recognizing Christ's ultimate authority and Lordship over our lives. When we truly fear or revere Christ, we see our neighbors, our spouses, our church members, and even our subordinates through His eyes. This reverence transforms our perspective, making us less concerned with our own rights and more attuned to His will and the needs of others. The ancient texts note that this 'fear' or 'reverence' is not a cowering dread, but a deep-seated respect for Christ as our Judge and King, motivating us to please Him in all our interactions.
In a world structured by clear hierarchies, Paul introduces a counter-cultural idea. What does it mean to 'submit to one another' in practical terms?
While subsequent verses will unpack specific relationships (wives to husbands, children to parents, etc.), this opening verse lays down a universal principle. It declares that all believers are called to submit to one another. This doesn't erase legitimate authority structures, but it reorients them. Instead of authority being solely about power and control, it's now infused with mutual service and care. This means looking for opportunities to defer, to serve, and to prioritize the well-being of others, regardless of their social standing or your relationship to them. It’s a dynamic of humility and service that’s meant to permeate the entire community.
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Understand the original words
hypotassomenoi · Greek Verb
To rank under, to voluntarily yield, or to arrange oneself under the authority of another. In a biblical context, it is a voluntary act of humility and service rather than a forced subjection.
phobō · Greek Noun
Awe, profound respect, or holy fear. Biblically, it refers to the deep, reverential honor and fear of God that shapes a believer's behavior toward others.
Christou · Greek Noun
The Messiah, the Anointed One of God. It refers to Jesus, the Son of God, who is the object of the believer's faith and the ultimate authority to whom they are accountable.
Paul writes Ephesians during a period of intense growth and early persecution for the church. This context highlights the need for the radical, Christ-centered mutuality he describes, especially as early Christians navigated new freedoms and external pressures while establishing household and community structures.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul is under house arrest in Rome, able to receive visitors and preach the gospel freely, during which time he writes the Epistle to the Ephesians.
c. AD 40s-60s
Early Christian Communities Flourish
The gospel spreads rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, leading to the establishment of numerous churches composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal council addresses whether Gentile converts must follow Jewish law, ultimately affirming their freedom from such requirements and fostering unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome, leading Emperor Nero to blame Christians, initiating the first major state-sponsored persecution of the church.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Ephesians 5:21 by calling believers to consider others better than themselves and to look out for the interests of others, not just their own. It highlights the humility and selflessness at the heart of mutual submission.
1 Peter 5:5Peter directly calls believers to clothe themselves with humility and to be subject to one another, reinforcing the idea that true submission flows from a humble heart in reverence for God's authority. This passage beautifully parallels the spirit of Ephesians 5:21.
Colossians 3:18This verse begins a similar section in Colossians, instructing wives to submit to their husbands. It shows how the general principle of mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21 is then applied to specific household relationships.
Romans 12:10Paul's instruction to 'love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor' directly supports the concept of mutual submission by emphasizing a spirit of honoring and deferring to others within the Christian community.
barnesEphesians 5:21: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Submitting yourselves one to another - Maintaining due subordination in the various relations of life. This general principle of religion, the apostle proceeds now to illustrate in reference to wives Ephesians 5:22-24 ; to children Ephesians 6:1-3 ; and to servants, Ephesians 6:5-8 . At the same time that he enforces this duty of submission, however, he enjoins on others to use their authority in a proper manner, and giv…
meyerEphesians 5:21: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Ephesians 5:21 f.[270] The words ὙΠΟΤΑΣΣ. ἈΛΛΉΛ. ἘΝ ΦΌΒῼ ΧΡ. still belong to Ephesians 5:20 (so Lachmann, Tischendorf, Bleek), parallel to the ΕὐΧΑΡΙΣΤΟῦΝΤΕς Κ.Τ.Λ. , adding to this relation towards God the mutual relation towards one another . Then begins with αἱ γυναῖκες a new section, into the first precept of which we have to take over the verb from the ὙΠΟΤΑΣΣΌΜΕΝΟΙ just used, namely, ὙΠΟΤΆΣΣΕΣΘΕ (Elzevir) or ὙΠΟΤΑΣ…
The verse doesn't just say to submit, but that this submission should happen "one to another." This radical idea means that everyone in Christ is called to mutual deference, not just those in subordinate roles, flipping the script on worldly power dynamics. This mutual submission is rooted not in obligation or mere politeness, but in a deep "reverence for Christ," meaning our respect for each other stems from our respect for Him.
Paul is shifting from encouraging believers to live in love and gratitude towards God to outlining how that translates into their relationships with each other. He's about to detail specific household responsibilities, but before that, he lays down a foundational principle: mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. This sets the stage for understanding the subsequent instructions not as oppressive rules, but as expressions of Christ-centered respect within various relationships.
Paul is shifting from encouraging believers to live in love and gratitude towards God to outlining how that translates into their relationships with each other. He's about to detail specific household responsibilities, but before that, he lays down a foundational principle: mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. This sets the stage for understanding the subsequent instructions not as oppressive rules, but as expressions of Christ-centered respect within various relationships.
"submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." — The verse doesn't just say to submit, but that this submission should happen "one to another." This radical idea means that everyone in Christ is called to mutual deference, not just those in subor…
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Last reviewed October 2026