Be Imitators of God

(A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and (B)walk in love, just as Christ also (C)loved [a]you and (D)gave Himself up for us, an (E)offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a (F)fragrant aroma.

But (G)sexual immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among [d]saints; and there must be no (H)filthiness [e]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which (I)are not fitting, but rather (J)giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that (K)no sexually immoral or [f]impure or greedy person, which [g]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (L)of Christ and God.

(M)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things (N)the wrath of God comes upon (O)the [h]sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become (P)partners with them; for (Q)you were once (R)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as (S)children of light (for (T)the fruit of the light consists in all (U)goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [i](V)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (W)Do not participate in the useless (X)deeds of (Y)darkness, but instead even (Z)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (AA)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [j]it says,

(AB)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from (AC)the dead,
And Christ (AD)will shine on you.”

15 So then, [k]be careful how you (AE)walk, not (AF)as unwise people but as wise, 16 [l](AG)making the most of your time, because (AH)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (AI)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AJ)do not get drunk with wine, [m]in which there is (AK)debauchery, but be (AL)filled with the Spirit, 19 (AM)speaking to [n]one another in (AN)psalms and (AO)hymns and spiritual (AP)songs, (AQ)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (AR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (AS)God and Father; 21 [o](AT)and subject yourselves to one another in the [p](AU)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

22 (AV)Wives, (AW)subject yourselves to your own husbands, (AX)as to the Lord. 23 For (AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (AZ)head of the church, He Himself (BA)being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 (BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (BC)gave Himself up for her, 26 (BD)so that He might sanctify her, having (BE)cleansed her by the (BF)washing of water with (BG)the word, 27 that He might (BH)present to Himself the church [q]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (BI)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to (BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are (BK)parts of His (BL)body. 31 (BM)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to (BN)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (BO)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

(BP)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (BQ)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

(BR)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but (BS)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

(BT)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [r]masters according to the flesh, with (BU)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (BV)as to Christ; (BW)not [s]by way of [t]eye-service, as (BX)people-pleasers, but as (BY)slaves of Christ, (BZ)doing the will of God from the [u]heart. With goodwill [v]render service, (CA)as to the Lord, and not to people, (CB)knowing that (CC)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (CD)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and (CE)give up threatening, knowing that (CF)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (CG)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, (CH)be strong in the Lord and in (CI)the strength of His might. 11 (CJ)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (CK)schemes of the devil. 12 For our (CL)struggle is not against [w](CM)flesh and blood, but (CN)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (CO)world forces of this (CP)darkness, against the (CQ)spiritual forces of wickedness in (CR)the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up (CS)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (CT)resist on (CU)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, (CV)having belted your waist with truth, and having (CW)put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having (CX)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [x]in addition to all, taking up the (CY)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (CZ)flaming arrows of (DA)the evil one. 17 And take (DB)the helmet of salvation and the (DC)sword of the Spirit, which is (DD)the word of God.

18 [y]With every (DE)prayer and request, [z](DF)pray at all times (DG)in the Spirit, and with this in view, [aa](DH)be alert with all (DI)perseverance and every (DJ)request for all the [ab]saints, 19 and (DK)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me (DL)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (DM)boldness (DN)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an (DO)ambassador (DP)in [ac]chains; that [ad]in proclaiming it I may speak (DQ)boldly, (DR)as I ought to speak.

21 (DS)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [ae]what I am doing, (DT)Tychicus, (DU)the beloved brother and faithful [af]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [ag](DV)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [ah]about us, and that he may (DW)comfort your hearts.

23 (DX)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and (DY)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [ai]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:2 One early ms us
  2. Ephesians 5:2 Lit for an odor of fragrance
  3. Ephesians 5:3 Lit and all
  4. Ephesians 5:3 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  5. Ephesians 5:4 Lit and
  6. Ephesians 5:5 I.e., morally impure
  7. Ephesians 5:5 Lit is
  8. Ephesians 5:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  9. Ephesians 5:10 Lit putting to the test what
  10. Ephesians 5:14 Or He
  11. Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
  12. Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
  13. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  14. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  15. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
  16. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for
  17. Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
  18. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  19. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  20. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  21. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  22. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
  23. Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
  24. Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
  25. Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
  26. Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
  27. Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
  28. Ephesians 6:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  29. Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
  30. Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss I may speak it boldly
  31. Ephesians 6:21 Or how
  32. Ephesians 6:21 Or minister
  33. Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
  34. Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
  35. Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption

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