If Christ is in the middle of a marriage, a wife will gladly submit to her husband, and the husband will gladly love his wife. May God give grace to our marriages today, and may all glory go to Him.

Husbands and wives find much in Scripture for how to love and respect one another (e.g., Eph 5:22–33; 1 Pet 3:1–7). This post focuses on one short passage, Colossians 3:18–19.

“Wives” are commanded briefly, “be subject to your husbands” (Col 3:18a). The command to “be subject” is to submit oneself, and, as a wife to a husband, as a helpmeet or helper to him as head of the home (cf. Gen 2:18; Eph 5:22, 24, 33). Implied is that wives must love their husbands as well (Titus 2:3–5). A husband will appreciate his wife’s beauty with his eyes, but more beautiful still in God’s eyes is the beauty of her gentle and quiet spirit, showing a love for the Lord (cf. 1 Pet 3:1–6). A husband trusts in such a woman, is respected because of her, and gives her verbal praise (Prov 31:10–12, 23, 27–29).

This submission to a husband “is fitting in the Lord” (Col 3:19b). The Greek word for “fitting” or “proper” is used only two other times in the New Testament, describing thanksgiving and forgiveness (Eph 5:4; Phm 8). Like other Christian actions, so also is a wife’s submission—something fitting and proper before the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, her attempt to domineer can be like a continually dripping rain, an unrestrained wind, and oil in the hand—uncontrollable things that take the pleasure out of life (Prov 19:13; 27:15–16). A man with such a wife will be tempted to run to the corners of his home or even far away (Prov 21:9, 19; 25:24).

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