Ephesians

¹Be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, a sweet-smelling fragrance. ³But sexual immorality and all forms of impurity and greed should not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting for saints. ⁴The same is true regarding filthy and foolish conversations as well as jokes which are not appropriate; instead, give thanks!

⁵Know this for sure: no one who is sexually immoral, involved in impurity, greedy, or an idolater has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words; because of these things, the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience. ⁷Therefore, do not share in their lot. ⁸Indeed, you used to be in darkness, but now, you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, ⁹for the fruit of the Spirit is in all [manner of] goodness, righteousness and truth. ¹⁰Discern what is well-pleasing to the Lord! ¹¹Have no fellowship with the vain¹⁹⁵² works of darkness, but rather, expose them for what they are. ¹²It is a shame even to speak about the things which these people do in secret! ¹³But all things are revealed when they are exposed to the light. ¹⁴Therefore, it is said:

Awake, you sleeper, arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.¹⁹⁵³

¹⁵Therefore, watch carefully how you live, not as unwise, but as wise [people], ¹⁶making good use of time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk with wine—this is reckless living—but be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs! Sing and chant to the Lord in your heart, ²⁰always giving thanks for everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, even unto the God and Father. ²¹[Finally], be in mutual subjection in the fear of Christ.¹⁹⁵⁴

Wives, Husbands, Christ and the Church

²²Wives, be subject to your own husbands as [you are] to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, and he is the savior of the body. ²⁴As the Church is subject to Christ, wives should likewise be subject to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her ²⁶in order to sanctify her, having purified her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷so that he might present her¹⁹⁵⁵ to himself in glory, without any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and flawless. ²⁸In the same way, a husband should love his wife as his [own] body. He who loves his own wife loves himself! ²⁹No man ever hates his own body but feeds it and cares for it, as the Lord also does for the Church. ³⁰Yes, we are members of his body, his very flesh and bones!¹⁹⁵⁶

³¹This is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife; and the two will become one flesh.¹⁹⁵⁷

³²This is a great mystery: I speak concerning Christ and the Church. ³³Now concerning you: each one of you must also love his own wife even as his own self; and the wife must respect her husband.

Children and parents

1952. Or “unfruitful, empty”
1953. Perhaps a quote from an ancient liturgical hymn
1954. Other ancient manuscripts have “in the fear of God”
1955. CT reads “the Church”
1956. CT omits “his very flesh and bones”
1957. Genesis 2:24