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Ephesians 5

World English Bible

WEB

1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. 5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7Therefore don’t be partakers with them. 8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. 22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. 28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, 30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” 32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. 33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Ephesians Chapter 5 calls believers to live in a manner that reflects their identity in Christ. The chapter begins with an exhortation to be imitators of God, walking in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5:1-2). This love is characterized by self-sacrifice and purity, contrasting sharply with the behaviors of the world. Paul warns against immorality, impurity, and greed, emphasizing that such actions are not fitting for the saints and that those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:3-5). The chapter encourages believers to let their light shine in a dark world, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness and living wisely, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:8-16).

The latter part of the chapter addresses the relationship between husbands and wives, drawing a parallel between marital love and Christ's love for the church. Paul instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, giving himself up for her to make her holy (Ephesians 5:25-27). Wives are called to respect their husbands, creating a beautiful picture of mutual submission and love within the marriage relationship (Ephesians 5:22-24). This chapter ultimately highlights the importance of living a life that reflects Christ's love and the transformative power of the gospel in our relationships, both with God and with one another.

#Ephesians #ImitatorsOfGod #ChristianLiving #Marriage #Love #LightInDarkness

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 2:24v31Genesis 2:24 describes the union of man and woman in marriage, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:31-32 as a profound mystery reflecting Christ and the Church.
  2. Genesis 8:21v2In Genesis 8:21, God is pleased with Noah's sacrifice, which is described as a soothing aroma. Ephesians 5:2 speaks of Christ's sacrificial love as a fragrant offering to God, drawing a parallel between Noah's sacrifice and Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
  3. Genesis 24:67v31Genesis 24:67 describes Isaac taking Rebekah as his wife, which is a foundational example of marriage, later reflected in Ephesians 5:31-32 as a mystery representing Christ and the church.
  4. Numbers 30:8v22Numbers 30:8 addresses the husband's authority to nullify his wife's vows, which is related to Ephesians 5:22-24, where the relationship between husband and wife is described in terms of submission and headship.
  5. Esther 1:22v22Esther 1:22 emphasizes the authority of husbands in their households, a theme echoed in Ephesians 5:22-24, where Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord.
  6. Psalms 95:1v19Psalm 95:1 calls for joyful singing to the Lord, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:19 where believers are encouraged to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord.
  7. Psalms 101:1v19Psalm 101:1 speaks of singing of mercy and judgment, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:19 where believers are encouraged to sing psalms and hymns, focusing on God's attributes.
  8. Proverbs 20:1v18Proverbs 20:1 warns against the deception and mockery of wine, while Ephesians 5:18 advises believers not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit, highlighting the contrast between worldly indulgence and spiritual fullness.
  9. Proverbs 23:20-21v18Proverbs 23:20-21 warns against excessive drinking and gluttony, which lead to poverty. Ephesians 5:18 advises believers not to get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, but to be filled with the Spirit.
  10. Song of Solomon 4:7v27Song of Solomon 4:7 speaks of the bride as being 'altogether beautiful' and without blemish, which parallels Ephesians 5:27 where the Church is presented as a radiant bride, holy and blameless.
  11. Song of Solomon 6:9v27Song of Solomon 6:9 speaks of the uniqueness and purity of the beloved, which aligns with Ephesians 5:27, where the church is presented to Christ as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle, holy and blameless.
  12. Song of Solomon 7:10v25Song of Solomon 7:10 expresses the mutual love and desire between the bride and the bridegroom, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:25-27 where the love of Christ for the Church is described as sacrificial and purifying.
  13. Isaiah 60:1v14Isaiah 60:1 calls for Jerusalem to arise and shine, for God's glory has come upon it. Ephesians 5:14 echoes this call to awaken and rise, associating it with Christ's light shining on believers.
  14. John 17:17v26John 17:17 speaks of sanctification through the truth, which is God's word. Ephesians 5:26 also mentions sanctification through the washing of water by the word.
  15. Romans 13:12v8Romans 13:12 speaks of casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light, a theme also found in Ephesians 5:8, which calls believers to live as children of light.
  16. 1 Corinthians 11:3v231 Corinthians 11:3 discusses the headship order, with Christ as the head of every man, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:23 where Christ is described as the head of the church, His body.
  17. 2 Corinthians 2:15v22 Corinthians 2:15 describes believers as the fragrance of Christ, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:2, where believers are called to walk in love as Christ loved us, offering Himself as a fragrant offering.
  18. 2 Corinthians 11:2v25Paul expresses his desire to present the Corinthians as a pure bride to Christ, echoing the imagery of the Church as the bride of Christ in Ephesians 5.
  19. Galatians 5:22-23v9Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which is echoed in Ephesians 5:9 where the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
  20. Colossians 3:16v19Colossians 3:16 emphasizes letting the word of Christ dwell richly, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, similar to Ephesians 5:19.
  21. Colossians 4:5v15Colossians 4:5 advises believers to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time, which parallels Ephesians 5:15-16's call to walk wisely and redeem the time.
  22. 1 Peter 3:1v221 Peter 3:1 instructs wives to be submissive to their husbands, a theme also addressed in Ephesians 5:22-24, where Paul discusses the relationship between husbands and wives as a reflection of Christ and the Church.
  23. 1 John 1:7v81 John 1:7 speaks of walking in the light as He is in the light, which is similar to Ephesians 5:8 where believers are called to live as children of light, reflecting their transformation in Christ.
  24. Revelation 19:7v25Revelation 19:7 speaks of the marriage of the Lamb, which parallels Ephesians 5:25-27 where Christ's relationship with the Church is likened to a marriage.

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