Submission of the Inner Self to Christ in Christian Theology

The concept of submission of the inner self to Christ is rooted in various biblical passages and has been interpreted and articulated by Christian theologians and traditions. At its core, this concept involves surrendering one's thoughts, will, and desires to Christ, aligning oneself with His teachings and example.

The biblical foundation for this concept is evident in passages such as 2 Corinthians 10:5, which exhorts believers to "throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" ^[3]. This verse underscores the importance of submitting one's thoughts and understanding to Christ. Similarly, Ephesians 5:21 encourages believers to "submitting yourselves one to another in reverence of Christ" ^[1], highlighting the role of mutual submission in the context of reverence for Christ.

Christ's own example is cited as a model for this submission. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ set an example of self-denial, as seen in passages like Matthew 4:8-10 and Philippians 2:6-8 ^[2]. This self-denial is not limited to external actions but encompasses a deeper surrender of one's inner self. The humility of Christ is also emphasized, as He "took our nature" and exhibited subjection to His parents and the ordinances of God ^[4].

In Christian theology, this submission is closely tied to the concept of baptism. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on Galatians 3:27, baptism is seen as a symbol of putting on Christ, where believers "have put on Christ" and are thus considered sons by adoption ^[6]. This understanding underscores the idea that submission to Christ is not merely an individual act but is deeply connected to the communal and sacramental life of the church.

The implications of this submission are far-reaching. Believers are considered to be "slaves of Christ," belonging not to themselves but to Him who has bought them with a price ^[10]. This understanding is rooted in passages like 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which emphasizes that believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that they have been bought with the blood of Christ ^[7]. As a result, every aspect of their lives is to be lived in service to Christ.

Different Christian traditions have articulated this concept in various ways. The Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:27, emphasizes the relational aspect of being in Christ, where every Christian is a member of His body and stands related to other believers as fellow-members ^[8]. The Protestant academic tradition, as seen in the Tyndale House commentary on Colossians 2:11, understands spiritual circumcision as a metaphor for the cutting away of the sinful nature when believers come to Christ ^[9].

The call to submission is not limited to specific aspects of life but is comprehensive, encompassing one's thoughts, will, and actions. It involves a deep-seated resignation to the will of God, as exemplified by Christ's own submission in Matthew 26:39-44 and John 12:27 ^[5]. This resignation is not passive but is an active engagement with God's sovereignty and purposes.

Sources

Ephesians “Ephesians 5:21 (Rotherham) — Submitting yourselves one to another in reverence of Christ,—”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
2 Corinthians “throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; -- 2 Corinthians 10:5”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:27: baptized into Christ-- (Rom 6:3). have put on Christ--Ye did, in that very act of being baptized into Christ, put on, or clothe yourselves with, Christ: so the Greek expresses. Christ is to you the toga virilis (the Roman garment of the full-grown man, assumed when ceasing to be a child) [BENGEL]. GATAKER defines a Christian, "One who has put on Christ." The argument is, By baptism ye have put on Christ; and therefore, He being the Son of God, ye become sons by adoption, by virtue of His Sonship by generation. This proves that baptism, where it an”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:18: 6:18-20 For Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 3:16-17; cp. 2 Cor 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence. • You do not belong to yourself: Christians can no longer claim their bodies as their own, as they have been bought . . . with a high price, the blood of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 5:9), and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God’s glory (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).”
1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:27: I. Here the apostle sums up the argument, and applies this similitude to the church of Christ, concerning which observe, 1. The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body. Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands related to him as a fellow-member (Co1 12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a part ”
Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:11: 2:11 Christ performed a spiritual circumcision: Spiritual conversion to Christ is the Christian counterpart to physical circumcision. • the cutting away of your sinful nature (literally the cutting away of the body of the flesh): Just as Jewish boys have the flesh of their foreskin cut off to mark their initiation into the people of God, so believers have metaphorical flesh (translated sinful nature) cut off when they come to Christ.”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:6: 6:6-7 As slaves of Christ: As those who have been bought by the blood of Christ, believers no longer belong to themselves (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:22; cp. Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10; Phil 1:1). For Christian slaves, the will of God is that they honor him by serving their human masters faithfully and with enthusiasm.”

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