The Biblical Concept of Vertical Relationships
Author: Steve Amato
Description: bible study on authority and submission
Keywords: bible, authority, submission, role, adam, husband, wife

# The Biblical Concept of
Vertical Relationships

Shadows | Reality
Goverment | Employer | Parents | Husband | Male | Spiritual Authorities | Christ | God the Father
Citizen | Employee | Children | Wife | Female | Disciples | The Church | The Son of God
Rom 13:1-6 | Eph 6:5-8 | Eph 6:1-3 | Eph 5:22-24 | 1Tim 2:11-14 1Cor 11:7 | Heb 13:17 | Eph 5:23 | John 6:38
Corporal | Individual | Parental | Intimate | Design | Spiritual |  |

The Bible presents a number of human role relationships as shadows of the relationship between Christ and the Christian and also the relationship between God the Father and the Son of God.

Human authorities have a realm of authority which is limited. How one defines the realm of each authority figure is a matter of some debate. But God should have the last word on such a matter as He establishes authorities (Rom 13:1-6). Just as there are those who are considered (or consider themselves) to have authority outside their real realm of authority (such are not legitimate authorities), so there are those who are legitimate authorities, but are not treated as such (or may not be considering themselves as such). The role of the Husband is often an example of the later. Husbands are generally not treated as authority figures, neither in society and rarely in Christendom. Oppressive Governments may be examples of the former, usurping authority over other legitimate authority figures such as parents and spiritual authorities.

### The Focus of Vertical Relationships

Authority Figure | Love & Responsibility
Person Under Authority | Obedience & Submission

"Now as the church submits to Christ,
so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" Eph 5:24,25

For the person under authority, obedience and submission is the way in which love is demonstrated in such a relationship.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources