5 Therefore, be 1 imitators of God as dearly loved children 2 and live 2 in love, just as Christ also loved us 3 and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering 4 to God. 3 But 5 among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, 6 or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 7 4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. 5 For you can be confident of this one thing: 8 that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 9 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, 10 8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are 11 light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – 9 for the fruit of the light 12 consists in 13 all goodness, righteousness, and truth – 10 trying to learn 14 what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather 15 expose them. 16 12 For the things they do 17 in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. 14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: 18
“Awake, 19 O sleeper! 20
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!” 21
15 Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise 22 by understanding 23 what the Lord’s will is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, which 24 is debauchery, 25 but be filled by the Spirit, 26 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music 27 in 28 your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other 29 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 30
22 Wives, submit 32 to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your 33 wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to sanctify her by cleansing her 34 with the washing of the water by the word, 27 so that he 35 may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 36 28 In the same way 37 husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body 38 but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 for we are members of his body. 39 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become 40 one flesh. 41 32 This mystery is great – but I am actually 42 speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, 43 each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, 44 and the wife must 45 respect 46 her husband.
6 Children, 1 obey your parents in the Lord 2 for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” 3 which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, 3 “that it may go 4 well with you and that you will live 5 a long time on the earth.” 6
4 Fathers, 7 do not provoke your children to anger, 8 but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, 9 obey your human masters 10 with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching 11 – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. 12 7 Obey 13 with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord 14 and not people, 8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this 15 will be rewarded by the Lord.
9 Masters, 16 treat your slaves 17 the same way, 18 giving up the use of threats, 19 because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, 20 and there is no favoritism with him.
10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes 21 of the devil. 12 For our struggle 22 is not against flesh and blood, 23 but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, 24 against the spiritual forces 25 of evil in the heavens. 26 13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground 27 on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening 28 the belt of truth around your waist, 29 by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 by fitting your 30 feet with the preparation that comes from the good news 31 of peace, 32 16 and in all of this, 33 by taking up the shield 34 of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation 35 and the sword 36 of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and petition, pray 37 at all times in the Spirit, and to this end 38 be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 19 Pray 39 for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak 40 – that I may confidently make known 41 the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
21 Tychicus, my 42 dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, 43 how I am doing. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances 44 and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, 45 and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be 46 with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. 47
