Viewing these verses from our modern culture, it would be easy to miss the point. A modern reader can be distracted by concepts of submission in marriage based on gender and the concept of slavery. These are huge subjects and we do not have time to unpack them fully here. However, when approaching both subjects we must remember that biblical submission never gives licence for abuse or oppression – indeed Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father and to human authority in his incarnation point to a foundation of humility that is sorely missing in our modern world.