gengwall

I do agree with you about Paul’s direction to husbands that deals with their fleshly flaws. But with the women I have another view. Women had been under their husband’s authority in that culture. This is the way it had always been, but Christianity changed that and gave them their own responsibility to mature and grow and use their own spiritual gifts. As they experienced Christianity, I believe that there is a strong possibility that their freedom in Christ might cause some of the women to despise their husbands. Surely they could submit to serve everyone in the congregation, but their own husbands? Why should she had to minister to him when she was freed from that?

I had a big long response written but as often happens, I believe this is not the perfect thread to continue on. Suffice it to say that I disagree slightly with you only in the area of root causes. You take the position (correct me if I’m wrong) that the root cause for any reluctance to submit on the part of wives is primarily (and maybe even exclusively) cultural. I think it goes back to the beginning and the fall, just as does the reluctance in men to love. I am comfortable with that minor difference.