Topical/Deductive Bible study

Ambrose Ho_

Deductive Study Sheet

Topic: Submission

Go to www.blueletterbible.com or www.biblestudytools.com or www.biblegateway.com and type in your topic.

If you get a large number,try and narrow it down by testament  or book. Keep in mind that the things done in the Old

Testament may not be prescriptive for us today because we now live under the new covenant (Hebrews 8).

Write out the 7 most applicable verses to your topic below.

Romans 8:7 “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

Hebrews 12:9 “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”

Job 22:21 ““Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”

Proverbs 3:6 “in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Romans 10:3 “Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

Ephesians 5:21 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

What are some key words/phrases/ or ideas being stated?

I searched the term “submit” in the Bible Gateway website, and it brought me to several verses that all had the theme of submission. Some described physical submission, such as Israel’s bondage to Assyria. However, the general theme was that of submission to others and to God, and how it must be total. This is especially evident in Romans 8:7, as Paul states that “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law.” Also, the consequences of submission are described, as Job tells of the prosperity that submission will bring, and James says submission to God can help one resist the devil.

Make some conclusions a bout this topic based upon the themes/words and phrases you found.

Submission to God is a large part of worship. A hymn that I have recently learned is Trust and Obey, where one of the lines reads “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus—but to trust and obey.” Submission to God as a ruler and master must always be present, and it will bring about changes in one’s lifestyle. This includes the provision of earthly needs, as stated in Job, and the correction of morals and behavior, as stated in Proverbs 3:6. Also, submission seems to be a criterion of treating other people, as Ephesians says that we should “submit to one another” out of respect for God.

Are there other gray areas, remaining questions you have about this topic that the Bible does not address?

There are a few gray areas, especially when the Bible talks about obeying rulers. In Hebrews 13:17, Paul speaks of the need to obey all earthly rulers, as they are appointed by God. Apparently, submission to rulers will allow them to rule in a more effective way. While this is true, one cannot help but wonder about all the leaders on Earth who have done a terrible job of managing their people. The dictators of North Korea come to mind, as do the despots of colonialism and the medieval ages. Perhaps it is the flawed nature of human behavior, but it does not seem prudent to be completely submissive to a human ruler.

Based on your knowledge of other areas of the Bible and the life of Jesus what do you think the Bible would say to fill in the gray areas?

I think there is an evident answer to my question, as many of these bad rulers were atheists or could care less about religion. Obviously, there is no need to provide complete submission to these people, given that they are oppressing and harming people. While violence may not be a solution to get rid of these people, measures must surely be taken to ensure the safety of their people. For example, the North Korean prison camps must be liberated and the dictatorial leadership must be deposed in one way or another. Additionally, it is impossible to think that Jesus would condone such misery and suffering with no response, seeing as He was strongly against the humiliation and submission of prostitutes, tax collectors, and other “sinful” people.

What does the world say about this topic through t.v.,music, and movies? What are the implications of those statements/though ts?

Nowadays, the message that popular culture brings is that everyone should have independence and a strong sense of self-worth. There is nothing wrong with that viewpoint, and it is definitely more helpful than harmful. In fact, it seems to be the kind of message that Jesus would condone, as it allows His children to exemplify the traits that He provided them with. However, people should be careful not to cross the line into arrogance, as it is likely that this “self-worth” could lead to one becoming absorbed in their own matters, and forgetting to submit to other’s needs. As such, we should try to strike a balance between the two: independence and submissiveness in one package.