Topical Encyclopedia
Subjection, in a biblical context, refers to the act of submitting or yielding to the authority or control of another. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the order and structure ordained by God in various relationships and institutions.
Subjection to GodThe primary form of subjection in the Bible is the submission of all creation to God. As the Creator and Sovereign, God commands the ultimate authority, and all beings are called to recognize His lordship.
James 4:7 exhorts believers, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This submission is not merely external compliance but involves a heartfelt acknowledgment of God's rightful place as Lord.
Subjection in Human Relationships1.
Marital Relationships: The Bible outlines specific roles within marriage, where wives are called to submit to their husbands as a reflection of the church's submission to Christ.
Ephesians 5:22-24 states, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." This subjection is not indicative of inferiority but is part of the divine order for harmony and unity within the family.
2.
Parental Authority: Children are instructed to obey their parents, recognizing the God-given authority within the family unit.
Ephesians 6:1 commands, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." This obedience is a form of subjection that fosters respect and discipline.
3.
Civil Authorities: Christians are also called to be subject to governing authorities, as these are established by God for the maintenance of order and justice.
Romans 13:1 declares, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God." This subjection is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over human institutions.
Subjection in the ChurchWithin the church, believers are encouraged to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21 instructs, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This mutual submission fosters unity and love within the body of Christ, reflecting the humility and servanthood exemplified by Jesus.
Subjection of CreationThe Bible also speaks of the subjection of creation to futility due to sin, with the hope of eventual liberation.
Romans 8:20-21 explains, "For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."
Subjection of ChristIn a profound mystery, Christ Himself is described as being subject to the Father, particularly in the context of His incarnation and redemptive work.
1 Corinthians 15:28 states, "When all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all." This subjection highlights the perfect unity and order within the Trinity.
Subjection, as presented in the Bible, is a multifaceted concept that underscores the importance of recognizing and honoring the divinely established order in various spheres of life. It is an expression of humility, obedience, and reverence for God's authority and design.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of bringing under the dominion of another; the act of subduing.
2. (n.) The state of being subject, or under the power, control, and government of another; a state of obedience or submissiveness; as, the safety of life, liberty, and property depends on our subjection to the laws.
Greek
5292. hupotage --subjection...subjection. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hupotage Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-ot-ag-ay') Short Definition:
subjection, submission Definition
...1402. douloo -- to enslave, bring undersubjection
... to enslave, bring undersubjection. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: douloo
Phonetic Spelling: (doo-lo'-o) Short Definition: I enslave Definition: I enslave...
5293. hupotasso -- to place or rank under, to subject, mid. to...
... Spelling: (hoop-ot-as'-so) Short Definition: I place under, subject to Definition:
I place under, subject to; mid, pass: I submit, put myself intosubjection....
1396. doulagogeo -- to enslave, fig. subdue
... Verb Transliteration: doulagogeo Phonetic Spelling: (doo-lag-ogue-eh'-o) Short
Definition: I enslave Definition: I bring intosubjection, enslave, treat as a...
1401. doulos -- a slave
... From deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently,
therefore in a qualified sense ofsubjection or subserviency) -- bond(-man...
4788. sugkleio -- to shut together, ie enclose
... enclose, shut up. From sun and kleio; to shut together, ie Include or (figuratively)
embrace in a commonsubjection to -- conclude, inclose, shut up....
5220. hupandros -- under the power of or subject to a man
... married woman. From hupo and aner; insubjection under a man, ie A married woman --
which hath an husband. see GREEK hupo. see GREEK aner....
Strong's Hebrew
3533. kabash -- to subdue, bring into bondage... root Definition to subdue, bring into bondage NASB Word Usage assault (1), brought
them into
subjection (2), forced into bondage (1), forcing (1), subdue (1
...3665. kana -- to be humble
... bring down low, intosubjection, under, humble self, subdue. A primitive root;
properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish...
8217. shaphal -- low
... Word Origin from shaphel Definition low NASB Word Usage abased (1), deeper (2),
humble (3), low (3), lower (2), lowest (1), lowly (5),subjection (1), which is...
Library
Nineteenth Day.Subjection.
... Nineteenth Day.SUBJECTION. "As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.""John,
xiv.31. Jesus as God-man had omnipotence slumbering in His arm....
Examination of the Meaning ofSubjection:' in that He Says that...
... Book I. Section 16. Examination of the meaning ofsubjection:' in that he says that
the nature of the Holy Spirit is subject to that of the Father and the Son....
Of Obedience andSubjection
... ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER IX Of obedience andsubjection....
Far safer is it to live insubjection than in a place of authority....
The Ninth Chapter: Obedience andSubjection
... BOOK ONE. THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL The Ninth Chapter: Obedience
andSubjection. IT IS a very great thing to obey, to...
Subjection to the Father of Spirits.
... 74. "Subjection to the Father of Spirits. 74. LM Doddridge.Subjection to
the Father of Spirits. 1 Eternal Source of light and thought!...
Of theSubjection of the Devils, which they Show to their Own...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVI. Of thesubjection of the devils,
which they show to their own princes, as seen in a brother's victim....
Of Christ'sSubjection to the Father (Two Articles)
... OF CHRIST'SSUBJECTION TO THE FATHER (TWO ARTICLES). We must now consider
such things as belong to Christ in relation to the Father....
On MutualSubjection {1} --(First Printed in 1744)
... ON MUTUALSUBJECTION {1}"(First Printed in 1744). "Yea, all of you be
subject one to another.""I Peter v.5 The Apostle having...
Contents: on MutualSubjection on Sleeping in Church on the Wisdom...
... Contents: On MutualSubjection On Sleeping in Church On the Wisdom
of this World Prayers used by the Dean for Stella....
With the Desire to Learn whatSubjection to Christ Means after...
... Book V. Chapter XIII. With the desire to learn whatsubjection to Christ
means after putting forward and rejecting? With the desire...
Thesaurus
Subjection (40 Occurrences)... control, and government of another; a state of obedience or submissiveness; as,
the safety of life, liberty, and property depends on our
subjection to the laws
...Subjected (18 Occurrences)
... & pp) of Subject. 2. (a.) Subjacent. 3. (a.) Reduced tosubjection; brought under
the dominion of another. 4. (a.) Exposed; liable; subject; obnoxious....
Under (4325 Occurrences)
... is superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully,
or the like, in a relation ofsubjection, subordination, obligation...
Subject (99 Occurrences)
... Romans 13:1 Let every soul be insubjection to the higher authorities, for there
is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God....
Wives (159 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 14:34 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not
been permitted for them to speak; but let them be insubjection, as the law...
Reduced (16 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Corinthians 15:27 for He will have put all things insubjection
under His feet. And when He shall have declared that "All...
Exception (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 15:27 for He will have put all things insubjection under
His feet. And when He shall have declared that "All things...
Sensual (8 Occurrences)
... pneuma). Thesubjection of the soul to the animal nature is man's debasement,
to the spirit indwelt of God is his exaltation. The...
Reverence (42 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 2:9). In the second, "fear" (Ephesians 5:33 the King James Version), though
here it is used to set forth the attitude of propersubjection on the...
Period (43 Occurrences)
... The objection to the last two views is that they require a rather long period of
subjection of the Israelites in Canaan to Egypt, of which there is no trace in...
Resources
When is civil disobedience allowed for a Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus was a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7)? | GotQuestions.orgAre sexual desires inherently sinful? | GotQuestions.orgSubjection: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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