Ephesians 5:21-6:9

Contemporary English Version

Wives and Husbands

²¹ Honor Christ and put others first. ^22 (A) A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. ²³ A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. ²⁴ Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.

^25 (B) A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. ²⁶ He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. ²⁷ Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.

²⁸ In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows he loves himself. ²⁹ None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ because we are each part of his body. ^31 (C) As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.” ³² This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. ³³ So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 ^(D) Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, ^2 (E) “Obey your father and your mother, ³ and you will have a long and happy life.”

^4 (F) Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

^5 (G) Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. ⁶ Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. ⁷ Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. ⁸ You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free.

^9 (H) Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don't threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn't have favorites.