Before we look more intently at verses 22ff, remember how Paul emphasizes that, as believers in Christ, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As evidence of that filling - the person will exercise a spirit of submission. That spirit will certainly set the believer apart in this egocentric world! Paul tells the believers in Philippi to "look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4) Peter says, "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'." (1 Peter 5:5) The concept of Christians being driven by a spirit of humility and submissiveness rather than egocentricity and self-centeredness runs throughout scripture.
Paul moves from the general principle - submissive to one another - to 3 specific areas. Most commentators call them the "house codes". In the first century as Christianity was exploding around the Gentile world Christians were being criticized as disrupting the social order. With all of the talk about freedom in Christ and equality in the Lord, with women being included fully in the worship, the false reports about Christianity were flowing freely. Paul confronts that criticism head on.
The first of these house codes involves husbands and wives. The second involves children and fathers. The third involves slaves and masters. Keep the context in your mind as Paul addresses these groups.
Notice the groups:
Those with no power: include wives, children and slaves Those with all the power: include husbands, fathers and masters
He tells those with no power to go ahead and submit to the authority over them. He tells wives to do it with respect. He tells children to do it with honor and obedience. He tells slaves to do it with diligence and good service. It is what he tells the ones in power that is revolutionary! Those instructions most likely are the instructions that dropped the jaws of the readers. Husbands - love as sacrificially as Christ loved? Treat her as carefully as you treat your own body? Fathers - don't provoke your children to anger but nurture them, train them? Masters - quit threatening your slaves? Treat them with good will? Amazing ...
Don't rip verse 22 out of its context. Keep it in the flow of thought and honor the intent and integrity of the passage. When we do so ... we can examine our own relationships and properly evaluate them. Many of us can be quick to say, "But you don't know my husband!" or "You don't know my parents!" or "You don't know my boss!" No, but I know how Paul describes being filled with the Holy Spirit. I also know that we do not live in an ideal world. So - by the grace of God - with all humility - we strive to emulate the ideal whenever possible.
And we do all ... ALL ... as unto our LORD!!
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