22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
The verb “submit” does not even appear in this verse. This whole verse is simply part of the previous verse, a continuation of the sentence. This type of sentence construction is common on Greek. The idea is something like this: “Submit to one another, wives to your husbands.” I mention this because so many people, some men in particular, like to start a discussion of the place of women with this verse, but to do that misses the point of the structure of the Greek sentence. We have a responsibility to submit to one another. Wives have their part and husbands have theirs. Each does their part and the mutual submission of verse 21 happens (the beginning of this sentence). Notice that the chapter ends with a summary explanation of the relationship between a husband and his wife. It says that each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. The love that a man is to demonstrate follows the example of Christ who died in our place. The role of the woman is summarized there as respect. Both husbands and wives have roles that demonstrate mutual submission and those roles a different. Husbands must love just like Jesus. Wives must show proper respect. I am convinced that when a husband loves like Jesus it becomes very difficult for his wife not to submit to him. There were individuals in Jesus’ day that did not respond to Jesus’ call to follow. That refusal to follow was because of a hardness of heart. Those who recognized their need responded and followed. Which category are you in today? Are you stubborn or submissive? Do you recognize that you need help, or are you still trying to do it on your own? Would your spouse have the same opinion of your category choice?
The Arnold Journey 