Did God Say Wives Submit? Papyrus 46

In my 45 years of Walking with Jesus and studying His Word, and the “True” definition of the scriptures, I have come across verses that “on the surface” have not sat right with me, or better said, have not agreed with my heart; my spirit, and as I read them, I knew something was not right; something was off.

One way to describe this is “sense” a knowing, much like a detective, of which this line of work has always intrigued me, and how they take Everything into account, such as Evidence, witnesses, much like a crime scene investigation. With each investigation there are times when everything appears to line up, but yet the investigator knows; has a sense, that something or many things are just not right, which compels them to dig deeper, so much so that they will not rest until they get to the Truth, and they do this by careful study and evaluation.

I know this may sound like a television show or film, but in real everyday life, these individuals are hard at work, using what I call gifts; their abilities to see what others may not see, in efforts to bring Truth to the light, to bring justice.

When it comes to spiritual things that pertain to the Word of God and the Kingdom of God, Jesus said to the Father, “Thy Word is Truth.” John 17:17, and thank God it is! The problem arises when human beings read verses and interpret them without Careful study. This is more common than you know. Which is Why the Word of God says, You must study the Word, including what is being spoken in pulpits all around the world (social media as well) and see if what you are hearing is actual Truth, or is it Oral doctrine: Oral doctrine is what others say, as if it is truth, and the hearer takes them at their word, with no study whatsoever of their own. This is Religion.

When you read your Bible, it is important to be aware that the entire Bible has been translated by translators. When it comes to the OT, many are not aware that it was originally written in Hebrew, and the NT was originally written in Greek. Sadly, modern translators have taken liberties. What do I mean by that? In some cases they have inserted words that were not originally in the early Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, or they have completely changed, and/or added words that were never there in the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, and there are those who have changed the definition to fit their own beliefs.

Needless to say, many have taken great liberties in their translations that are completely wrong, words that have Not come from the “Mouth” of God, but are in fact from the doctrines of man, as I mentioned earlier, this is what is called Oral Doctrines, of which can be very deceptive, and in some cases evil and demonic. The scriptures call this, “Doctrines of man” and “Doctrines of demons.” These would be sayings that “sound like truth.”

Look at it this way, If Satan can come into the garden in the form of a serpent, and deceive both Adam and Eve, by taking what God said, and changing it that it sounded like truth, (see Ephesians 4:14-16) then we must be aware that it is no different today. Satan is still at work, deceiving others with lies, for Jesus said, that Satan is the father of lies, and the scriptures teach us that we are not to be “ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

We are also warned of this enemy in 1 Peter 5:8,9, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil roams as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the Faith, knowing the Same afflictions are accomplished in the Brothers and Sisters.”

The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians chapter 6 that the devil is very tricky, “wiles of the devil” this means tricks of the devil. So then, how can we know the difference between lies and truth? Study! Study to show yourselves approved. Study what is True by conducting your own exegesis. When we do, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the Witness, will bare witness with our spirit, meaning He will Reveal Truth to our heart; our spirit, by Revealing the True definition of His Word. John 16:13 says, He will lead you and guide you, He will Speak to you and show you things to come.

THE WOMAN QUESTION: There have been many subjects in the scriptures regarding women, in this study, we are going to take a look at one of them, found in Ephesians chapter 5, where we will look closely at the relationship of Jesus with His Church; the body of Christ and how that relationship is in connection to marriage between a husband and wife.

As with every subject I study, I do this by carefully researching the Hebrew and Greek words and meanings of specific words within those verses, because some modern translators have changed, added or left out much of what the oldest available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts tell us.

KEY POINT: According to current Bible Scholars, the oldest available Greek manuscript of the New Testament is considered to be the Papyrus 46, which is part of the P. Chester Beatty Papyri Collection, and is dated between 175 and 225 AD, with some scholars suggesting a date closer to 200 AD.

The Papyrus 46, contains significant portions of the NT, including parts of the Pauline Epistles, the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation. Due to its early date, Papyrus 46 is considered a crucial manuscript for textual criticism of the New Testament, providing insight into the early text of the Christian scriptures.

Codex Sinaiticus, the earliest known manuscript of the Christian Bible, compiled in the 4th century, Handwritten well over 1600 years ago, the manuscript contains the Christian Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testatment. See Codexsinaiticus.org

Note: Please keep in mind that Not Every Word recorded in the Bible comes from the “Mouth” of God, which is why we must carefully study, for instance look at what Jesus says in Matthew 5:38-48, “You have heard it said, an eye for an eye, BUT I TELL YOU (what He is about to say, Is from the Mouth of God) do not resist the evil person, if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the left also.” Jesus continues in this context and says it again, “You have heard it said…But I tell you, Love your enemies…” Pay attention to what God and Jesus says, Not what others say. I felt it was necessary to point this out, because I want you to be aware that, even though something is recorded in the scriptures, does not mean they are in fact Words Spoken from the “Mouth of God.”

In this study we are going to take a look at Ephesians chapter 5, and more specifically verses 21 and 22, but before we do, I would like to thank Helga Edwards, who recently conducted a study regarding Ephesians 5:18-33

Which I have found has been extremely helpful in my exegesis on this subject, and I believe will be a help to you as well.

Please keep in mind that much of what you are about to read came directly from her teaching:

NO DIRECT COMMANDS TO WIVES: In her teaching, Helga says that Ephesians 5:18-33 has often been used to tell wives that they must respect their husbands and submit to them. In truth, there are actually NO commands in the entire passages directed only to wives.

When we look at the original language understood in the first century context, we can see that it’s husbands who were told to lay their power social position, and to imitate the Love, humility and service of Jesus so that their wives might respect them.

Let’s look at this passage and concepts Paul appears to be communicating, beginning with verses 18-21, and these concepts are, “do not be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery, meaning wasteful living and reckless behavior, but instead be filled with the Spirit, speaking to each other in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs, and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks at All times to God, in the name of Jesus, submitting yourselves one to another (this is a submission of Love for one another) in reverence for Christ.”

Helga continues and says, “It’s important to understand the word submitting in this passage has been terribly misrepresented, and has often been misused to abuse and control.” She goes on to say “Submitting is Not a command, but is voluntary, and is reciprocal, addressing a group of people (the body of Christ) both men and women, this is Not singling out wives, submitting does not apply only to wives, husbands are included in the “one to another” mutual submission, if they are indeed filled with the Spirit, therefore verse 21 tells us, that submitting is an action performed by a group of people, and in this case the body of Christ, it is reciprocal which includes men, as in 1 Peter 5:5, All of you clothe yourselves with humility one to another, for God resists the proud, but gives Grace to the humble,”this is an action We perform upon ourselves in relation to one another. Peter says, all people are to make a conscious choice to clothe themselves with humility, just as Jesus clothed Himself with humility, and took on the nature of a servant.”

Important: In many translations Ephesians 5:21, reads, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God, 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

KEY POINT: IN EPHESIANS 5:22, THE WORD “SUBMIT” IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK MANUSCRIPTS (PAPYRUS 46, AND CODEX SINAITICUS.) It was added, in the oldest available Greek manuscripts, it only says, “WIVES TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS”

In Helga’s teaching she goes into more detail regarding Ephesians 5:21, which reads, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” and explains that the word Submitting in V21 is MUTUAL SUBMITTING, and in verse 22, the Correct Original Greek reads, “Wives to their own husbands.” The word Submitting is borrowed from verse 21 and is carried over into verse 22, the same verb with the middle voice, therefore wives to their husbands as to the Lord, is an example of what Submitting one to another looks like culturally, and legally speaking, wives already related to their husbands in this way at the time of the Roman Empire. It was later that translators added the word, “Submit” to verse 22, but originally there was NO separate command to wives here. Note: in some Bible translations punctuation has been added that artificially separate verse 21 from verse 22, also some translations insert headings between the two verses to create the “appearance” that they are two separate thoughts, the additional verb, the added punctuation, and the inserted headings all “create” the impression that Ephesians 5:22 introduces a new command directed only to wives, in our oldest manuscripts, NONE of these changes or additions are present.

When you look at the image of Papyrus 46, one of the oldest available Greek manuscripts of Paul’s letters, which dates back to around 200 AD, Ephesians 5:22, you will see that the word “Submit” is Not there, nor are there any headings or punctuations, All of these have been added to our translations, therefore, anyone suggesting that there is a new separate command directed exclusively to wives in Ephesians 5:22, is referring to more recent manuscripts and translations, over and above our oldest Greek manuscripts which agree Ephesians 5:21 and 22 are Both Mutual and Reciprocal submission, both teach Mutual and Reciprocal submission between men and women, husbands and wives in the body of Christ.

HUSBAND IS KEPHALE TO THE WIFE AS CHRIST IS KEPHALE TO THE CHURCH:

Now let’s take a look at verses 23-25, for the husband is Kephale to the wife as also Christ is Kephale to the church, He Himself is Savior to the body, as the church is submissive to Christ , so also wives to their own husbands in everything, husbands love the wives just as also Christ Loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

The word “church” here refers to All people who have Responded to Christ’s Love. Therefore, Submitting to Christ is Responding to His Love, like in the marriage commitment, the Greek word Kephale is: Source of Life and Love, and Submitting is a Responding to that Love: Husbands Love your wives as Christ Loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

Kephale is Christ loving the Church and Kephale is the husband Loving His wife as Christ Loved the church.

JESUS LOVE FOR YOU DRAWS YOU TO HIM, THEREFORE OUR SUBMITTING TO CHRIST MEANS WE ARE RESPONDING TO THAT LOVE, IT IS A RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE. THOSE WHO ACCEPT THAT LOVE, RESPOND TO HIS LOVE BY GIVING OUR LIVES TO HIM.

WHEN A HUSBAND LOVES HIS WIFE IN THIS MANNER AS SAID IN THE VERSE, SHE WILL ALSO RESPOND AND BECOME DRAWN TO HIS LOVE FOR HER. JUST AS THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO CHRIST’S LOVE, SO ALSO WILL THE WIFE RESPOND TO HER HUSBANDS LOVE.

THE WORD “HEAD” IN ENGLISH REFERS TO SOURCE:

Husbands are Kephale (Source of Life and Love) to the wife, as Christ is Kephale (Source of Life and Love) church. Keep in mind that some modern translators (Greek Lexicon) that have not used the Papyrus 46, suggest that Kephale means Rule, that is not true and is not in the original oldest Greek manuscripts. Kephale is correctly translated as Source of Life and Love.

KEY POINT: If Paul was intent on telling husbands to be leaders of their wives he would have chosen the Greek word Archon rather than Kephale. Archon in the New Testament Greek meant leader, many scholars discuss the Apostle Paul’s use of the word Kephale, in reference to Jesus as the Source of the church’s Life and spiritual growth. In both Colossians and Ephesians, Kephale, or Head is used to describe Jesus as the the Source of Growth in His Body the Church, therefore in Ephesians 2:19, it says they have lost connection with the head, Kephale (Source of Life) from whom the whole body supported and held together by its ligament grows as God causes it to grow, therefore the body grows from the Head (Jesus, Kephale, Source of Life) See Ephesians 4:15-16, as the church is built up in Love (church built up in Love and Life as Jesus is the Source, of Life and Love) as each does its part so the church grows from the Head, the Kephale, as God causes it to grow.

The Same word Kephale, or head is used when referring to the first human, Adam, as the source of Love…As he being the the first human created in the image of God, as God is Love, so being created by God who IS Love, is Created to Love, which is why God said, “It is not good for man (Hebrew: human being) to be alone, and when the woman was created, Adam was to be the Source of Love for His wife. They were both to be a “Helper” to one another, the same word Helper is used in referring to the Holy Spirit being our Helper.

God created human beings to Love one another and remember, submitting one to another in Ephesians 5 means LOVE.

If you would like to continue this study, as there is much viable documented information, listen to Helga Edwards teaching, “Ephesians 5:18-33”

I also highly recommend following Bible Scholar, Marg Mowczko, “The Grammar of Ephesians 5:21,22” and many other teachings regarding women in the Bible, Women in the Church, and marriage.

I pray these documented resources help you in your journey to learn who you are in Christ Jesus as His Daughters, your God given Equal Rights in the Body of Christ and in Marriage. Amen.

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