The Case of the Sneaky Title

You know how the Bible has section titles, chapter numbers and verse numbers?

Well, those aren’t inspired.

They were added much later for our convenience (having chapter and verse numbers helps us look up specific portions of Scripture).

They’re not Scripture – they’re like navigating reference points.

Generally, they are helpful.

Occasionally, they are sneaky.

Here’s an example:
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Ephesians 5:21-22 (NIV)

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
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Notice how the section title “Wives and Husbands” breaks up the flow and makes it seem as if there is a new topic being introduced.

Sneaky, sneaky.

I bet the editors who wrote that section title were dudes.

Seriously, I’d bet money on it.

Here’s my point: submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ is connected to the instructions for husbands and wives. In other words, husbands are being told to submit also.

In the New Living Translation, this portion of Scripture reads like this:

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means…
25 For husbands, this means…

Yup, submitting is the job of both wives and husbands.

Don’t be sneaky and try to write yourself out of the “submit to your spouse” instruction.