Walk in Love

(A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And (B)walk in love, (C)as Christ loved us and (D)gave himself up for us, a (E)fragrant (F)offering and sacrifice to God.

But (G)sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness (H)must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be (I)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (J)which are out of place, but instead (K)let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that (L)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((M)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (N)Let no one (O)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (P)the wrath of God comes upon (Q)the sons of disobedience. Therefore (R)do not become partners with them; for (S)at one time you were (T)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (U)Walk as children of light (for (V)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and (W)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (X)Take no part in the (Y)unfruitful (Z)works of darkness, but instead (AA)expose them. 12 For (AB)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when (AC)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

(AD)“Awake, O sleeper,
    and (AE)arise from the dead,
and (AF)Christ will shine on you.”

15 (AG)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (AH)making the best use of the time, because (AI)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (AJ)the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AK)do not get drunk with wine, for that is (AL)debauchery, but (AM)be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in (AN)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 (AO)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (AP)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AQ)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 (AR)Wives, (AS)submit to your own husbands, (AT)as to the Lord. 23 For (AU)the husband is the head of the wife even as (AV)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (AW)himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit (AX)in everything to their husbands.

25 (AY)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (AZ)gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (BA)the washing of water (BB)with the word, 27 so (BC)that he might present the church to himself in splendor, (BD)without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way (BE)husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because (BF)we are members of his body. 31 (BG)“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and (BH)the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, (BI)let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (BJ)respects her husband.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:27 Or holy and blameless

Follow God’s example,(A) therefore, as dearly loved children(B) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(C) and gave himself up for us(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(E)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(I) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(J)—has any inheritance(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](L) Let no one deceive you(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(N) comes on those who are disobedient.(O) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(Q) (for the fruit(R) of the light consists in all goodness,(S) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(T) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(U) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,(W)
    rise from the dead,(X)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(Y)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(Z)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(AA) because the days are evil.(AB) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(AC) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(AD) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(AE) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(AF) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(AG) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(AH)

21 Submit to one another(AI) out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(AJ) as you do to the Lord.(AK) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(AL) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(AM) in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,(AN) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(AO) 26 to make her holy,(AP) cleansing[b] her by the washing(AQ) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(AR) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(AS) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(AT) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(AU) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c](AV) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(AW) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
  2. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  3. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24