Dave

NN, your logic chain is fundamentally flawed (illogical!). Why do you still insist people interact with it? If you want to start there to get some base for communication you need to interact with the criticism of it. There are more options than you give with your three. You have not even allowed for combinations of the three. I said this earlier, though I should not complain about having to repeat one thing once I guess!!

I would argue that Paul is saying fundamentally the same thing to both husbands and wives, but allows for the cultural differences of the time that reflected a difference between husbands and wives.

* Verse 21. We are all told to place ourselves in a position of service to one another. Why? Fundamentally because of Christ (what he did and who he is – love).

* Verses 22-24. Wives are to do this also – remembering Christ’s relationship with the church (who he is and what he did – love).

*Verses 25-31. Husbands are to do this also – being like Christ who put himself in a position of service for His body (being and doing Jesus – love).

As I said earlier, Calvin saw the connection in this passage between submission and love. Love is the motive, submission is love being worked out. It has nothing to do with authority, but in ANY cultural context love is worked out through submission – placing ourselves in a position of service.

Please note that submission does not = subordination, where there is no choice, but due to hierarchy one is below another. That is NOT at play in this passage. It is not even inferred!