TL

In the New Covenent Commentary Series on Ephesians, author Lynn H. Cohick makes some interesting statements.

“With its call for believers to submit to each other, the verb in 5:21 governs 5:22 and its instructions for wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord. Note that Paul qualifies ‘submit’ in both verses’ in 5:21 with the phrase ‘out of reverence for Christ’ and in 5:22 as ‘to the Lord’. Paul pictures each believer as submitting to Christ, and that is shown by submitting to the other members of Christ’s body. This participle can be interpreted as either middle or passive (being submissive or submitting yourselves), which affects the interpretation. The passive voice would imply that the person instructed has little say in the matter, while the middle implies some agency. This latter sense is preferred, as it matches the other active participles’ voice and it fits Paul’s point that believers should not act as though drunk (passively under the influence of another source) but actively make choices following the Spirit’s leading.” pg’s 136-137