Marriage: Exaggeration of Diversity - rejection of Equality

The most extensive discussion of Christian marriage in the Bible is Ephesians 5:21-33. The first verse in this passage (which editors often separate from the next verse in modern Bibles) is:

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (NIV)

The concept of "mutual submission" is consistent with the description Paul gives of the relationships among Christians in the church, as described elsewhere in these documents. In Christ, all are to humble themselves under Christ as Lord.


The most common and natural thing is for one person to dominate over another, to form a hierarchy. The rationale is that "someone has to be in charge", although that isn't exactly what the Bible teaches. It talks of love and respect, not domination and power. We get the latter from the world, with its hierarchies in government and business institutions. The problem with such systems is that they suppress the possible new ideas and views and desires of the mass of "little people". Christ did not intend His followers to be structured in this way. In Christ there are no "little people".

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