Testament is always used of submission to an authority. Here are some
examples:
- Jesus was subject (“obedient”) to the authority of his parents
(Luke 2:51). - Demons were “subject to” the disciples (Luke 10:17; it is clear
that the meaning “be considerate of, be thoughtful toward” cannot fit
here, for the demons were certainly not considerate of or thoughtful
toward the disciples!). - Citizens are to be “subject to” the governing authorities (Rom.
13:1, 5; see also Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13). - The universe is “in subjection” to Christ (1 Cor. 15:27; see also
Eph. 1:22). - Angels and other spiritual beings are “subject to” Christ (1 Pet.
3:22). - Christ is “subjected to” God the Father (1 Cor. 15:28).
- Church members are to be “subject to” the elders in the church
(1 Pet. 5:5^34 ). - Wives are told to be “subject to” their husbands (Eph. 5:22, 24;
Col. 3:18; Titus 2:5, 1 Pet. 3:5). - The church is “subject to” Christ (Eph. 5:24).
- Servants are to be “subject to” their masters (Titus 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18).
- Christians are to be “subject to” God (Heb. 12:9; James 4:7).
This list should demonstrate clearly that to “be subject to” some-
one, in the sense that is signified by the word hypotassø,always means
to be subject to the authority of that other person. In all of these exam-
ples, there is no exception. The subjection is one-directional and the
person who is under authority is subject to the person who has
authority over him or her. The relationships indicated by the word
hypotassøsimply do not envision relationships where the authority is
mutual, or where it is reciprocal, or where it is reversed. It is only one-
directional.
(3) The lack of evidence for the egalitarian meaning. In all of this
controversy over roles for men and women, no one has yet produced
any examples in ancient Greek literature (either inside or outside the
New Testament) where hypotassøis applied to a relationship between
The Key Issues in the Manhood-Womanhood Controversy 53