Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of being subordinate is often associated with the idea of submission, order, and hierarchy within various relationships and institutions established by God. The term "subordinate" itself may not appear frequently in the biblical text, but the principle is evident throughout Scripture, particularly in the relationships between God and humanity, within the family, and in the church.
Divine Order and CreationThe concept of subordination is first introduced in the creation narrative. God establishes a divine order in creation, with humanity given dominion over the earth.
Genesis 1:28 states, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.'" Here, humanity is placed in a position of authority over creation, yet remains subordinate to God as the Creator.
Family StructureIn the family, the Bible outlines a structure where subordination is part of the order established by God.
Ephesians 5:22-24 instructs, "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 passage highlights the role of the wife in relation to her husband, reflecting a model of loving leadership and willing submission.
Similarly, children are called to be subordinate to their parents.
Ephesians 6:1-3 states, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (which is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" This command emphasizes the importance of respecting parental authority as part of God's design for family life.
Church LeadershipSubordination is also evident in the structure of church leadership.
Hebrews 13:17 advises, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account. Allow them to do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you." This verse underscores the responsibility of church members to respect and follow the guidance of their spiritual leaders, who are accountable to God for their oversight.
Christ's ExampleThe ultimate example of subordination is found in Jesus Christ Himself.
Philippians 2:5-8 describes Christ's humility and obedience: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." Christ's willing subordination to the Father's will serves as a model for all believers.
ConclusionThe biblical principle of subordination is not about inferiority or oppression but about fulfilling God-given roles and responsibilities within His established order. It reflects a harmonious relationship where love, respect, and obedience are central, ultimately pointing to the greater reality of Christ's relationship with the Church and His submission to the Father.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Placed in a lower order, class, or rank; holding a lower or inferior position.
2. (a.) Inferior in order, nature, dignity, power, importance, or the like.
3. (n.) One who stands in order or rank below another; -- distinguished from a principal.
4. (v. t.) To place in a lower order or class; to make or consider as of less value or importance; as, to subordinate one creature to another.
5. (v. t.) To make subject; to subject or subdue; as, to subordinate the passions to reason.
Greek
1481. ethnarches -- an ethnarch, a governor (not king) of a...... ethnarches Phonetic Spelling: (eth-nar'-khace) Short Definition: an ethnarch, tribal
lord Definition: an ethnarch, tribal lord, a
subordinate ruler.
...5259. hupo -- by, under
... about. 5259 (a preposition) -- properly, , often meaning " authority" of
someone working as asubordinate ( someone/something else)....
5256. hupereteo -- to serve as a rower, to minister to, serve
... minister unto, serve. From huperetes; to be asubordinate, ie (by implication)
subserve -- minister (unto), serve. see GREEK huperetes....
4892. sunedrion -- a sitting together, hence a council, spec. the...
... derivative of a compound of sun and the base of hedraios; a joint session, ie
(specially), the Jewish Sanhedrin; by analogy, asubordinate tribunal -- council....
5293. hupotasso -- to place or rank under, to subject, mid. to...
... From hupo and tasso; tosubordinate; reflexively, to obey -- be under obedience
(obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in...
5257. huperetes -- an underling, servant
... From hupo and a derivative of eresso (to row); an under-oarsman, ie (generally)
subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable) -- minister, officer, servant....
5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... exist. From hupo and archomai; to begin under (quietly), ie Come into existence
(be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula orsubordinate to an...
5219. hupakouo -- to listen, attend to
... From hupo and akouo; to hear under (as asubordinate), ie To listen attentively;
by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority -- hearken, be...
Library
The New Testament Definitely Protected the Old Testament as a Book...
... ORIGIN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 3. The New Testament definitely protected the Old Testament
as a book of the Church, but thrust it into asubordinate position and...
Inspiration of Scripture. --Gospel Difficulties. --The Word of God...
... SERMON III. INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE."GOSPEL DIFFICULTIES."THE WORD OF GOD
INFALLIBLE."OTHER SCIENCESSUBORDINATE TO THEOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 2 Tim. iii.16....
Choice and Training of the Apostles to beSubordinate Teachers.
... THE MEANS AND INSTRUMENTS OF CHRIST. CHAPTER I A. THE MEANS OF CHRIST IN GENERAL.
Section 63. Choice and Training of the Apostles to besubordinate Teachers....
Whether Prudence About One's Own Good is Specifically the Same as...
... Objection 3: Further, a habit is not diversified in species or essence by things
which aresubordinate to one another. But the particular...
Sylvanus
... I take this figure of a man who so contentedly and continually took such asubordinate
place"played second fiddle quite willingly all his days, and who...
Whether the Goodness and Malice of the External Action are the...
... Now it may happen, in things that aresubordinate to something else, that a thing
is good merely from beingsubordinate; thus a bitter draught is good merely...
Whether "Eubulia, Synesis, and Gnome" are virtues Annexed to...
... I answer that, Wherever several powers aresubordinate to one another, that
power is the highest which is ordained to the highest act....
The Holy Spirit -56 and the Church (57-60)
... in holy Church." By this we are given to understand that the rational creation
belonging to the free Jerusalem ought to be mentioned in asubordinate order to...
Whether the Gift of Understanding is Compatible with Faith?
... such as the mystery to three Persons in one God, and the incarnation of God the
Son; whereas other things come under faith, through beingsubordinate, in one...
For what Reason the Prophet Isaiah is Said to have Been Purified...
... and by conducting Its own gift of Light to the most reverend Beings, through them,
as first, It distributes in due order to thesubordinate, according to the...
Thesaurus
Subordinate (2 Occurrences)... 4. (vt) To place in a lower order or class; to make or consider as of less value
or importance; as, to
subordinate one creature to another.
...Deacon (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) An officer in Christian churches appointed to
perform certainsubordinate duties varying in different communions....
Minister (150 Occurrences)
... (3.) Greek leitourgos, asubordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied
to magistrates (Romans 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Hebrews 8:2...
Under (4325 Occurrences)
... 6. (adv.) In a lower, subject, orsubordinate condition; in subjection; -- used
chiefly in a few idiomatic phrases; as, to bring under, to reduce to subjection...
Levite (43 Occurrences)
... This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe
which was set apart for thesubordinate offices of the sanctuary service (1...
Inferior (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lower in place, rank, excellence, etc.; less
important or valuable;subordinate; underneath; beneath....
Innocents (2 Occurrences)
... Here, again, thesubordinate position assigned to the story of the Magi together
with the absence of Old Testament material is conclusive....
Massacre (1 Occurrence)
... Here, again, thesubordinate position assigned to the story of the Magi together
with the absence of Old Testament material is conclusive....
Authority (326 Occurrences)
... reference to which anything called ultimate, absolute and supreme, could apply for
its credentials, it would therefore become relative andsubordinate to that...
Divorce (18 Occurrences)
... di-vors': 1.Subordinate Position of Woman: Woman, among the Hebrews, as among
most nations of antiquity, occupied asubordinate position....
Resources
What is the Demiurge? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Korah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgSubordinate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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