MSB EPH Chapter 5

Imitators of God

5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us[fn] and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, [or] of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4 [Nor should there be] obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: [No] immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has [any] inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 {Let} no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore {do} not be partakers with them.

Children of Light

8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in [the] Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit[fn] [consists] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose [them]. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what [the disobedient] do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,[fn] for everything that is illuminated becomes a light [itself]. 14 So it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,

rise up from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore {do} not be foolish, but understand[fn] what the Lord’s will [is]. 18 {Do} not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with [the] Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God [the] Father for everything in [the] name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.[fn]

22 Wives, submit to your[fn] husbands as to the Lord. 23 For [the] husband is [the] head of the wife as Christ [is the] head of the church, and He is [the] Savior of the body.[fn] 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives [should submit] to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing [her] by the washing with water through [the] word, 27 [and] to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such [blemish], but holy and blameless.

28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 Indeed, no one ever hated his [own] body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord[fn] [does] the church. 30 For we are members of His body—of His flesh and of His bones.[fn]

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.”[fn] 32 This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as [he loves] himself, and the wife must respect [her] husband.