The Bible has a lot to say about submission and authority. God has established an order of authority that we are called to follow for our good and His glory. The key passages that discuss submission in the Bible are:
Submission to Governing Authorities
Romans 13:1-7 makes it clear that we are to submit to governing authorities, as they have been instituted by God. We are to obey the laws of the land and the leaders that God has placed over us. The only exception is if the authorities require us to disobey God (Acts 5:29). Even corrupt leaders are used by God to accomplish His purposes. Our role is to honor and pray for our leaders, not rebel or speak ill of them.
Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
Submission in the Church
Within the church, God has established leadership roles as well. 1 Peter 5:5 instructs younger believers to submit to the elders in the church. Hebrews 13:17 says to obey church leaders and submit to their authority. God gifts certain people in the body of Christ to be leaders, prophets, teachers and shepherds (Ephesians 4:11-13). We are to honor those in leadership and submit to their spiritual authority for our growth and the unity of the church.
1 Peter 5:5 says, “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Submission in Marriage
One of the clearest biblical commands about submission is for wives to submit to their husbands. Passages like Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18 and 1 Peter 3:1-6 all instruct wives to submit to their husbands as the head of the home. This does not mean that wives are inferior, but that God has established an order of authority for the flourishing of marriage. Husbands are called to sacrificial, loving headship and leadership.
Ephesians 5:22-24 states, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”
This submission is voluntary, empowering and based on trust in God’s design for marriage. When both spouses fulfill their biblical roles, marriage thrives in mutual love, respect and intimacy.
Submission to God
Above all, the Bible calls every Christian to submit to God as the highest authority. James 4:7 says to submit to God and resist the devil. 1 Peter 5:6 says to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. Ultimately, all other submission is an outflow of our primary submission to Jesus Christ as Lord. He is the head of the church and King of Kings. Our allegiance belongs to Him alone.
James 4:7 instructs, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The Bible makes it clear that submission does not equate to inferiority. Jesus Himself submitted to the will of the Father while on earth (Luke 22:42). He gave up His rights and humbled Himself as an act of loving obedience. In the same way, biblical submission involves a voluntary yielding to proper authority to uphold order and fulfill roles God has ordained for our good.
Reasons and Benefits for Biblical Submission
Submission goes against the grain of our human tendency to rebel and assert our independence. Why then does God command it? Here are some of the reasons and benefits of biblical submission:
- It reflects the order of authority established by God. God is a God of order, not chaos. He has ordained certain structures of authority for the benefit of society (Romans 13:1-7). We submit in recognition of His right to rule and govern the world as He sees fit.
- It is an act of humility and service. Just as Jesus served us by giving His life, biblical submission involves laying down our rights and ambition to serve those God has placed over us (Mark 10:42-45). It displays the attitude of Christ.
- It honors God’s delegated authorities. When we reject authority, we reject God’s order. But when we submit, we honor both God and His design (Romans 13:1-2). This includes obeying laws, heaping honor on our leaders and deferring to church elders.
- It fosters unity and order. If everyone did as they pleased, there would be chaos. Voluntary submission to appropriate authority helps maintain order and peace in society, the church and marriage.
- It is a protection against rebellion and pride. Submitting to others keeps self-will, independence and pride in check. It cultivates humility before God (1 Peter 5:5-7).
- It displays the power of the gospel. The world says assert your rights. But the gospel empowers voluntary submission as an act of love and service, even to unjust authorities like unsaved husbands (1 Peter 2:18-3:7).
- It leads to flourishing under God’s design. God’s plans are good. When we follow His blueprint, including proper submission to authority, it leads to greater joy, fulfillment and blessing (Psalm 84:11).
Rightly understood, biblical submission is a liberation from selfishness, not a burden. It fulfills God’s design in establishing social order, upholding marriage covenants and freeing us to love and honor others above ourselves.
Our Posture Towards Unbiblical Commands
Because every authority is subordinate to Christ, our ultimate allegiance is to Him. If any human authority requires us to disobey God, we must respectfully refuse and accept the consequences (Acts 5:29). Other than these cases, even unjust, oppressive or foolish authorities are to be submitted to as instituted by God.
We see this modeled by David, who refused to harm King Saul even though Saul was unjustly seeking to kill him. He referred to Saul as “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6). Paul also appealed respectfully when he was unjustly flogged and imprisoned (Acts 16:37, 22:25-29).
Our posture is not rebellion or resistance, but humble appeal. We can also use legal or political means to change ungodly laws if these avenues are available. But our basic posture should be honoring to God and all in authority over us.
In Summary
The Bible clearly instructs Christians to submit to governing authorities, church leaders, and in marriage wives to husbands. This upholds God’s order and exemplifies the selfless love of Jesus. We obey God first, but otherwise submit even to unjust leaders. Biblical submission requires humility, trust in God’s design, and putting the needs of others first. When lived out in the power of the Holy Spirit, it displays the gracious work of God in our lives to a watching world.
