"The spirit of submission, whereby a woman, voluntarily acknowledges her husband’s leadership responsibility under God, is an act of faith. The Bible nowhere ‘submits’ or subordinates women to men, generically. But this text calls a woman to submit herself to her husband (Ephesians 5:22), and the husband is charged to lovingly give himself to caring for his wife -- never exploiting the trust of her submission (vs. 7; Ephesians 5:25-29). This divinely ordered arrangement is never shown, nor was it ever given, to reduce the potential, purpose, or fulfillment of the woman. Only fallen nature or persistent church traditionalism, finding occasion through ‘proof-texts’ separated from their full biblical context, can make a case for the social exploitation of women or the restriction of women from church ministry.

"I Timothy 2:12 and I Corinthians 14:34, 35, which disallow a woman’s teaching (in an unwelcomed manner), usurping authority, or creating a nuisance by public argument, all relate to the woman’s relationship with her husband. (The Greek word for ‘man’ in I Timothy 2:12 is aner, which is as readily translated ‘husband’ as ‘man.’ The context clearly recommends ‘husband,’ as does the evidence of the rest of the NT related to the viability of a woman’s public voice in Christian assemblies.)

".... Similarly, this wisdom would apply to any woman with the potential for a public ministry of leadership in the church. Her place will most likely be given when she is not argumentatively insistent upon it, so much as given to ‘winning’ it by a gracious, loving, servantlike spirit -- the same spirit that ought to be evident in the life of a man who would lead."

The footnotes from this same passage for vss. 3-6, "...indicate a wife’s obedience is not from intimidation, but from a quiet confidence which is the fruit of trust in God..."

Resources:
1) Audio Album "Redeeming Relationships"
2) Tape #2073 "Husband-Wife Relationships" Part 1
3) Tape #2074 "Husband-Wife Relationships" Part 2
4) Tape #2075 "Husband-Wife Relationships" Part 3

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"Brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us..."
Hebrews 10:19-20

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