Ephesians 5:22-6:8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Christian Household
22 Wives, be subject[a] to your husbands as to the Lord,(A) 23 for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.(B) 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.(C) 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body.[b](D) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”(E) 32 This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect[c] her husband.
Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[d] for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise(F)— 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.(G)
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect[e] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,(H) 6 not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. 7 Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, 8 knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.