PAUL AND THE PRINCIPLE OF MUTUAL SUBMISSION? A Critical Analysis of the Positional Shift of Ephesians 5:21 in the Second Edition of the Indonesian Bible Society (TB2-LAI) within the Context of Marital Relations

Abstract

This article explores the editorial repositioning of Ephesians 5:21, a key verse on mutual submission, in the Second Edition of the Indonesian Bible Translations (Terjemahan Baru Edisi 2, TB2), published by the Indonesian Bible Society (Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia, LAI) in 2023. The study examines how this change affects the understanding of marital relationships, especially in light of the ongoing theological debate between complementarian and egalitarian interpretations. In the 1974 edition (Terjemahan Baru, TB), Ephesians 5:21 serves as the conclusion to the section titled “Living as Children of Light.” In contrast, TB2 places the verse at the beginning of a new section called “Christ’s Love as the Foundation of the Husband–Wife Relationship,” closely connecting it to verse 22, which speaks about wives submitting to their husbands. By comparing the Textus Receptus and the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (NA28), the article analyzes the textual and translational rationale behind this change. While the editorial decision appears to be primarily driven by linguistic and textual considerations rather than theological ones, its implications are significant. The new placement of verse 21 subtly supports an egalitarian reading, where a wife’s submission is seen as part of the broader call for mutual submission among all believers in the body of Christ. The article concludes by proposing a Spirit-led, Trinitarian, and community-centered understanding of marriage that reflects the shared life and mutual service at the heart of Christian discipleship.

Keywords: Mutual submission; husband and wife; Ephesians 5:21; communitarianism; egalitarianism; Second Edition of the Indonesian Bible Society (TB2)