Lesson 7: The Role of the Woman The Family & the Home Lesson 7: The Role of the Woman

Marriage & Family Roles Marriages and families are failing all around the world because men, women, and children are not fulfilling their God-given roles and responsibilities If we want the blessings of marriage and family (Psa. 128), we have to fulfill the divine roles & relationships given to us by God; not follow society’s worldly wisdom

Marriage & Family Roles The responsibilities have to be sorted out ahead of time like on a ball team or in business There are important roles and relationships that must be identified and maintained in every marriage and family There are four areas of responsibility: 1) spiritual (religious), 2) physical, 3) emotional (mental), and 4) social

Marriage & Family Roles Marriage and family roles can be identified in three ways… One’s role One’s responsibility One’s attitude

The Wife: Her Position Her position: “submission” (Gr. hupotasso = “to place or arrange (tasso) under (hupo); be subject to; to submit; to obey” Scripture references: Gen. 3:16 (rule over you); Eph. 5:22 (be in subjection); Eph. 5:24 (is subject); Tit. 2:5 (being in subjection, obedient to their own husbands, KJV); 1 Pet. 3:1,5 (be(ing) in subjection)

The Wife: Her Position The two-fold, God-given reason for her submission is given by Paul in 1 Tim. 2:11-14 (see also 1 Cor. 11:3, 7-10; 2 Cor. 11:3) The man was made first The woman was deceived and transgressed (she took a leading role in Gen. 3:6)

The Wife: Her Position What submission is not… Submission is not limited to the wife (see charts below) Submission does not imply inferiority (intellectually, educationally, emotionally, spiritually) Submission does not imply inequality; a second-class status

The Wife: Her Position Submission does not mean she is a slave Submission does not mean she never opens her mouth; has no opinion; gives no advice; has no decisions to make (1 Tim. 5:14; Tit. 2:4-5) Submission does not mean she is a “wallflower” or “trophy” who is seen and never heard

The Wife: Her Position What submission is … Submission is mandatory (a command); not optional Submission is voluntary in response to God’s command; not forced upon her by the man Submission is continuous throughout the marriage

The Wife: Her Position Submission is a spiritual matter – “as unto the Lord” … “as is fitting in the Lord” Submission is a positive, not negative role Submission is a role that involves right attitudes (like respect) as well as right actions Submission is extensive – “in everything” (the exception: if she is told to do something contrary to God’s word, Acts 5:29)

The Wife: Her Position Submission must be maintained by the woman; she must not surrender it or abandon it Submission is simply the God-given role or responsibility; not given by men Abuses of submission do not change the pattern of what God wants for the man in the home

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents People Subject to God People Subject to Gov. or Boss Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; 1Pet. 3:1,5; Tit. 2:5 Eph. 1:22-23; 5:22-24 Lk. 2:51; 1 Tim. 3:4-5 1 Cor. 15:27-28; Heb. 2:8; 12:9; Jas. 4:7 Rom. 13:5; 1 Pet. 2:13, 18; Tit. 3:1

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I’m just not going to be subject to him.” “I’m just not going to be subject to them.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I’ll do it, but I don’t have to like it.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “We’ve agreed to swap roles.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I’ll just let him think he’s the head when he’s really not.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I will manipulate him to get my way.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I’m going to do what I want anyway.”

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “I’m not going to be subject in every- thing.” (Ep. 5:24)

Subjection and Submission Wife Subject to Husband Church Subject to Christ Child Subject to Parents All People Subject to God All People Subject to Gov. or Boss “We joke about how I am not subject to him.” “We joke about how I am not subject to them.”

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her spiritual responsibility to her husband: Do not lead him away from God (Gen. 3:6; 1 K. 11:3-4; Neh. 13:26; Job 2:9; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 7:16) Be virtuous toward him (Prov. 9:13; 11:16, 22; 12:4; 30:20-23; 31:10) Show him how to fear the Lord (Prov. 31:30)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her spiritual responsibility to her husband: Encourage him to be a leader (1 Tim. 3:1-13; especially verse 11) Be in subjection (obedient) to him – “as unto the Lord … in everything” (Eph. 5:22-24) … “as is fitting in the Lord” (Col. 3:18) … “that the word of God be not blasphemed (Tit. 2:5) … “hoped in God” (1 Pet. 3:5)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her spiritual responsibility to her husband: Do the Lord’s work together (Acts 18:24ff) Set the proper example as a Christian (1 Pet. 3:1-2) Be righteous together (1 Pet. 3:7; Lk. 1:5-6) Pray together (1 Pet. 3:7; Judges 13:8ff)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her physical responsibility to her husband: Help him suitably (Gen. 2:18, 24) Leave and cleave to him (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:5; Eph. 5:31; Gen. 24:58-60) Fulfill his sexual needs (Gen. 2:24; Prov. 5:18-19; S. of S. 4:12 - 5:1; 1 Cor. 7:1-5) Be affectionate; kiss him (S. of S. 8:1)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her physical responsibility to her husband: Be faithful and loyal to him (Prov. 2:17; 6:29; Mk. 10:12; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:10, 39; 1 Tim. 5:9; Heb. 13:4)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her emotional responsibility to her husband: Be one with him (Gen. 2:24) Love him (Tit. 2:4; Gr. phileo = friendship love; tender affection; see S. of S. 8:6-7)

The Wife: Her Responsibility Her social responsibility to her husband: Be his companion; live joyfully with him; dwell closely with him (Gen. 2:18; Deut. 24:5; Prov. 2:17; Eccl. 9:9; Mal. 2:14; 1 Cor. 7:34; 1 Pet. 3:7) Do enjoyable things together (S. of S. 7:10-12)

The Wife: Her Attitude Her attitude toward her husband: Do not despise him in your heart (2 Sam. 6:16) Do not be contentious (Prov. 19:13; 21:9) Be prudent (Prov. 19:14) Do him good, not evil (Prov. 31:12)

The Wife: Her Attitude Her attitude toward her husband: Fear (revere, respect, venerate) him (Eph. 5:33; 1 Pet. 3:2; Sarah called Abraham “lord”, verse 6) Have inner godliness (1 Tim. 2:9,10) Refuse old wives’ fables (1 Tim. 4:7) Love him (Tit. 2:4)

The Wife: Her Attitude Her attitude toward her husband: Be sober-minded (sound, controlled) and chaste (pure) toward him (Tit. 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:2) Be meek (mild, gentle, submissive) and quiet (still, peaceful) in spirit (1 Pet. 3:4) Be holy, set apart, consecrated (1 Pet. 3:5)

Review Questions 1. What position does the woman have in marriage? 2. What are the responsibilities of the woman to her husband? 3. What attitudes must the woman have as a wife?