Ephesians 5:21
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 5:21
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The remarkable thing here is that "submitting to one another" comes before any specific instructions about wives submitting to husbands. This universal call to mutual humility sets the stage, showing that this isn't about one-sided obedience, but a foundational principle for all relationships driven by a deep respect for Christ.
Paul is transitioning from encouraging believers to live as children of light to outlining practical Christian conduct in relationships. He begins by establishing a foundational principle of mutual submission, which then serves as the basis for the specific instructions he will give to wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters in the following verses. This verse acts as an overarching command that frames the more detailed household codes that follow.
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.
This passage echoes the humility and selflessness called for in Ephesians 5:21, emphasizing that we should consider others better than ourselves and look out for their interests, not just our own.
1 Peter 5:5Peter directly links humility and submission, stating 'clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' This highlights the character required for mutual submission.
Colossians 3:13While Ephesians 5:21 focuses on submission, Colossians 3:13 provides the essential relational glue: 'bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.' This shows the practical outworking of that submission.
Romans 12:10This verse directly commands 'Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor,' which is the spirit and attitude behind the call to mutual submission found in Ephesians 5:21.
Galatians 5:13Paul calls believers to 'serve one another through love,' providing the motivation and purpose for the mutual submission described in Ephesians 5:21. It’s not about control but about loving service.
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 remarkable thing here is that "submitting to one another" comes before any specific instructions about wives submitting to husbands. This universal call to mutual humility sets the stage, showing that this isn't about one-sided obedience, but a foundational principle for all relationships driven by a deep respect for Christ.
Paul is transitioning from encouraging believers to live as children of light to outlining practical Christian conduct in relationships. He begins by establishing a foundational principle of mutual submission, which then serves as the basis for the specific instructions he will give to wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters in the following verses. This verse acts as an overarching command that frames the more detailed household codes that follow.
Paul is transitioning from encouraging believers to live as children of light to outlining practical Christian conduct in relationships. He begins by establishing a foundational principle of mutual submission, which then serves as the basis for the specific instructions he will give to wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters in the following verses. This verse acts as an overarching command that frames the more detailed household codes that follow.
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"submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." — The remarkable thing here is that "submitting to one another" comes before any specific instructions about wives submitting to husbands. This universal call to mutual humility sets the stage, showi…