Ephesians 4:17-6:9

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Old Life and the New

¹⁷ Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer walk as the^[a] gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds;^{(A) 18} they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.^{(B) 19} They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ That is not the way you learned Christ! ²¹ For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, ²² to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,^{(C) 23} and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.^(D)

Rules for the New Life

²⁵ So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.^{(E) 26} Be angry but do not sin;^[b] do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not make room for the devil. ²⁸ Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,^[c] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.^{(F) 31} Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.^{(G) 32} Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.^[d](H) 5 ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,^{(I) 2} and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[e] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(J)

Renounce Pagan Ways

³ But sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.^{(K) 4} Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. ⁵ Be sure of this, that no sexually immoral or impure person or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^(L)

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.^{[f](M) 7} Therefore do not be associated with them, ⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light,^{(N) 9} for the fruit of the light^[g] is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.^{(O) 12} For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

¹⁵ Be careful, then, how you live,^[h] not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil.^{(Q) 17} So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.^{(R) 18} Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,^{(S) 19} as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,^{(T) 20} giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(U) 21} being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The Christian Household

²² Wives, be subject^[i] to your husbands as to the Lord,^{(V) 23} for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.^{(W) 24} Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.^{(X) 28} In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body.^{[j](Y) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{(Z) 32} This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. ³³ Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect^[k] her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,^[l] for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise^(AA)— ³ “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.^(AB)

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^[m] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,^{(AC) 6} not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. ⁷ Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.

⁹ And, masters,^[n] do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord^[o] in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.^(AD)