NN

To Retha (#39)
I will answer in two points:

1) “Baali” is a possessive variant of “Ba’al” a word which is translated master, husband, lord, commander, and used as an epithet of pagan Canaanite deities. (I looked up the Strong’s reference for Ba’al for you – here it is: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1167&t=KJV) So, yes the word does have a primary meaning of “husband” and as such it is commonly used in the OT (e.g. Deu 22:22).

2) On your assertion:

The slightest knowledge of human nature would tell you the verse does not speak about obeying a selfish man. The verse speaks of someone motivated to change by submission. A selfish person does not change because his selfishness is rewarded.

I appreciate your argument – it is the same fundamental argument leveled at Christianity as a whole since the beginning. “Salvation can’t be by grace alone – or people will simply say the words, get a free ticket into heaven and then act however they want to. It will simply be a free license to enable their own selfishness without negative consequences.” But of course the NT deals with this idea of true conversion (e.g. Rom 6:1), and by being an example to the world by turning the other cheek rather than fighting back repeatedly.
So, I appreciate your arguments, I recognize the weight of psychological journals you have on your side. But I for myself am going to have to go with the Scriptures as the revealed word of God on this one.