Should women submit, be subject to, or obey all men?

The Bible has a number of passages that deal with the relationship men & women have to each other.

When we look at them, we find that it does not say that women are to obey all men in general.
Women are to be under male leadership in the church (not to teach or exercise authority over men),  but there is a chain of command so to speak.  Men shouldn't be telling other men's wives what to do and usurping the husband's role.  I believe rather that men in the church should encourage men to speak with their own wives.  In general, everyone is to submit to the government.  Christians are to submit to each other. Foremost women and men are to submit to God.

We do find in the Bible that women are to submit & be subject their own husbands.
Ephesians 5:22 ; 1 Peter 2:1-2 ; Ephesians 5:24 ; 1 Peter 2:5
We find that Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham, calling him lord.
Wives are to respect their husbands. 1 Peter 3:2  This means even unbelieving husbands or ones disobedient to the Word.  Men won't always do things the way that the Bible says, but a wife should follow the husband's leadership so long as the wife isn't sinning.  That act of love and humility may even win the husband over.

Just as Christian men should not deny their wives physical intimacy, women should not deny their husbands intimacy (except by agreement for a time...1 Corinthians 7:2-6).

Those in the church are to be subject to each other in the fear of Christ, but there is a special relationship between a wife and her husband.  It's a relationship of honor and unity. It is compared to the unity of Christ and His Bride the Church.

Are women to be treated as inferiors?

 

No. 
The Bible tells us that men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.  (See Ephesians 5:25.)
Men are to nourish and cherish their wives as they would their own bodies (Ephesians 5:28-30).
Men are to live with their wives in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7).
Wives are fellow heirs.
Christian men should be leading and helping their wives spiritually.
Men and women both should treat each other in all the ways the Bible instructs Christians to treat each other.
If there is physical abuse going on, we are under civil laws.  Also, if the spouse professes to be a Christian, the church must exercise discipline.  Go to your church, and if threatened...go to the police.

What does it mean that women are weaker?

 

I'm sure it quickly comes to mind that women are in general physically weaker than men with some exceptions.
While many women may not want to admit it, I freely admit that I am weaker emotionally than men.
This doesn't mean that women lack intelligence or the ability to use logic. 
It means that logic can fly out the window due to being more sensitive, emotional, and hormonal.
Women have a different balance of hormones than men do.  We tend to be more tenderhearted which suits the roles that God has given to women in general.
I see in 1 Peter 3 an encouragement to follow 1 Peter 3:8 in all relationships.
A man can't live in an understanding way unless he realizes a woman's fragility, and honors her and treats her as a fellow heir (if she is a believer) in spite of her role of submission.  He should not try to dominate his wife by being a dictator, and she should not try to dominate him or be afraid of or controlled by fear of him.

Women are to have a gentle and quiet spirit, though our natural desire in our sinful fallen state is to rule over men (Genesis 3:16).
The Bible teaches us to have faith and live in love and sanctity with self-restraint (1 Timothy 2:15).
Women are to be chaste, respectful, gentle & quiet (1 Peter 3:2-4).

Now, in full disclosure, I am not married.  I still am to be subject to other Christians and the authorities the Bible has for me. 

Should Married Christian Women Work Outside the Home?

Recently I was troubled to read of a woman who was offered a job which would take her and her husband to another state. This was not because he had a job in that state, but yet they were seriously considering moving for her to take that job as though it could be God's will.

Now in this modern world, many Christians would accept a decision like that without question or qualms.

That is why I believe caution must be applied & the Bible studied on this issue.

What are some Biblical principles women can apply?

I will give some thoughts and conclusions I have come to on the issue of married women, and then share links to some articles I found on the subject authored by pastors. I do not agree 100% with one of them, but I do think they offer some additional good insight.

Ephesians 5 talks about a wife being subject to her own husband (as wells as 1 Peter 3:1 in the case of the unbelieving husband),

Titus 2:4-5 talks about women are to be workers in the home (young widows were to remarry and have children and do this).

The Proverbs 31 woman worked in her home making things, and she took her goods out to be sold to tradesmen (nowhere does it say she was employed by another man not her husband). She made other household decisions like buying a field.

Woman was created to be a helper to her husband (Genesis 2:18).

Women often helped in church ministry and with support in the Bible. Older women are to teach younger women to love their husbands and their children (Titus 2:4).

Those are some of the Biblical views I find of married women.
In a practical sense, we know there can be temptations in the workplace when people are under someone not their spouse.  Husbands and wives are cemented / glued together and that relationship reflects Christ's relationship with the church.  It is something that is not held as sacredly in a world that mocks the marriage relationship in many ways.

We know that the married woman is going to be subject to another person in most employment situations outside the home (unless there is a family business, ministry or an independent job). If that boss is a man other than the husband, then there can be a conflict of who the leader of that woman is when we look in the Bible at how people are to treat their employers or masters.


Men are to be the head of their wives and the main providers. It troubles me to see men who subject themselves to their wife's career, because it seems to fly in the face of their role as leaders and providers.

1 Tim. 5:8 says that someone who does not provide for his own is worse than an infidel (note that it is his own).

Ephesians 5:23 says that husbands are the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church.

Ephesians 5:29 indicates men are to nourish and cherish their wives.

Men leading, nourishing & cherishing their wives I believe includes leading in finances.

The married Christian woman's priority is to be her home & husband.
The dangers and risks are high for women working in employment outside the home - not only falling into temptation (which can also happen online) but neglecting Biblical priorities.

Married women with children cannot fulfill their Biblical role properly when they neglect their primary responsibilities to their family. I strongly believe there are Biblical principles that apply here. Most people are following cultural Christian norms reflecting the secular world & not applying the Bible to this area of their lives. Many Christians follow the world and not the Word in their everyday decision making and practice. It should not be the norm for married Christian women to be working for a man not her husband in an employment situation.

That is my strong conviction & yes I realize that this post will be stepping on many toes.

Unless a man is disabled, his job is foremost. I personally do not believe married women should work outside the home except from the home as her headquarters or "office" under the leadership & care of her husband.

I realize some disabled men may not be able to work at all, and there may be some other unusual circumstances, but we are talking norms here.
　

I'm not judging anybody else's salvation here on this topic.
We are all on different levels of spiritual growth & Biblical knowledge and convictions.
I truly do not believe women should subject her husband to her having a career where her husband has to follow her around.
I would encourage all women to study the Bible more. and get their wisdom from it.

Women and Work Outside The Home

Leadership in the Home - A Godly Man Provides


Ephesians 5:22-24 NASB

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Colossians 3:18

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Titus 2:4-5

so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored

1 Tim 5:14

Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;