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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Wives And Submission In Marriage

Early Christian writers taught that wives should submit to their husbands, while husbands must love and honor their wives. Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, the Apostolic Constitutions, Tertullian, and others repeat this pattern, and they often tie it to Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 3, and 1 Corinthians 7. The evidence is broad across the 1st to 3rd centuries and is not limited to one author or one region. Some cards are only Bible quotations or loose echoes, but the main teaching is clear and repeated.

The picture is not one-sided, though, because the same writers also stress mutual love, honor, chastity, and peace in marriage.

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1 Ephesians 5:22 2 Colossians 3:18 3 1 Peter 3:1 4 Ephesians 5:24 5 1 Peter 3:5 6 Titus 2:5 7 Ephesians 5:21 8 1 Peter 3:7 9 Ephesians 5:33 10 1 Corinthians 7:4

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13 references

Foundation Texts

Ephesians 5:22 primary

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Direct Bible wording from Ephesians 5:22.

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Direct Bible wording from Colossians 3:18.

1 Peter 3:1

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

Direct verse on wives being submissive to husbands.

Supporting Passages

Ephesians 5:24

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Used in the same marriage context for the husband-wife pattern.

1 Peter 3:5

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Another 1 Peter submission passage.

Titus 2:5

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus passage on submissive wives.

Ephesians 5:21

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

General mutual submission frame for Christian relationships.

1 Peter 3:7

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Husbands should live with wives with understanding and honor.

Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Love and reverence are both present.

1 Corinthians 7:4

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Mutual bodily authority in marriage; not a one-way duty.

1 Corinthians 7:3

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Mutual marriage duty in 1 Corinthians.

1 Peter 3:6

Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Sarah obeying Abraham is used as an example.

1 Timothy 2:11

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.