From the beginning...

It is not hard to imagine why the concept of submission has gotten so misrepresented. The world paints this picture of domineering husbands and ancient cultures where women where nothing more than property. With this kind of imagery and perception it is easy to see why even the word "submission" can cause many women to rise out of their seats and take a stand against it.
But in reality, "submission" is a trait that began with God Himself.
First, lets look at the word "submission". In the Greek it is hupotasso. From the root tasso, comes the idea of arranging or putting things in order. The prefix hupo means "under". So together the word means to "voluntarily put oneself under". Submission does not means "inferiority" or "slavery" nor does it imply "domination".

J.D. Watson explains in his Devotional "A Word for the Day":
"As spirit-filled Christians, then, we rank ourselves under one another within God's predefined positions. Again this does not imply that one person is inferior to another. Rather it means that the Christian is humble and willing to be ranked underneath as God prescribes. Without such order there is chaos."

God has given certain order in Scripture. We are to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13).
Wives to husbands (Eph. 5:22; 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Peter 3:1)
Christian husbands submit to the headship of Christ (Eph. 5:22, 25; 1 Cor 11:3)
Children are to obey parents (Eph. 6:1-3)
And an employee ranks himself under his employer and obeys (Eph. 6:4)
Godly submission brings about order and peace. It is not a "ranking" of greatest to least or of superior to inferior.
Once it has been established that it is God's purpose to have order through submission, we can look at the greatest example which is in the Trinity.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit represent the beauty of submission and headship. This Divine order that exists within the Trinity affirms that submission is God-purposed for good. Jesus submits to the Father and the Spirit to the Son. Through that order or "ranking" redemption came to the world. Jesus attained that by submitting to all God the Father had for Him ...even death. When we see Christ's willingness to submit and appreciate the beauty of submission we will discern Biblical submission. So you see, submission originated in God Himself.
Tomorrow we will look at the equal value and dignity in men and women. We will go all the way back to Genesis.