18 And (A)do not get drunk with wine, [a]in which there is (B)debauchery, but be (C)filled with the Spirit, 19 (D)speaking to [b]one another in (E)psalms and (F)hymns and spiritual (G)songs, (H)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (I)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (J)God and Father; 21 [c](K)and subject yourselves to one another in the [d](L)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

22 (M)Wives, (N)subject yourselves to your own husbands, (O)as to the Lord. 23 For (P)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (Q)head of the church, He Himself (R)being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 (S)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (T)gave Himself up for her, 26 (U)so that He might sanctify her, having (V)cleansed her by the (W)washing of water with (X)the word, 27 that He might (Y)present to Himself the church [e]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (Z)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to (AA)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are (AB)parts of His (AC)body. 31 (AD)For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to (AE)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (AF)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

(AG)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (AH)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

(AI)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but (AJ)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

(AK)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [f]masters according to the flesh, with (AL)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (AM)as to Christ; (AN)not [g]by way of [h]eye-service, as (AO)people-pleasers, but as (AP)slaves of Christ, (AQ)doing the will of God from the [i]heart. With goodwill [j]render service, (AR)as to the Lord, and not to people, (AS)knowing that (AT)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (AU)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and (AV)give up threatening, knowing that (AW)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (AX)no partiality with Him.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  2. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  3. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
  4. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for
  5. Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
  6. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  7. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  8. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  9. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  10. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering

18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.(A) 19 [a]Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 Wives, be subject [b]to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].

25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become [c]one flesh.(B) 32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church. 33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear].(C)

Family Relationships

Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline]. Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise— so that it may be well with you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.(D)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

[d]Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ— not in the way of eye-service [working only when someone is watching you and only] to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart; rendering service with goodwill, as to the Lord, and not [only] to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether [he is] slave or free.

You masters, do the same [showing goodwill] toward them, and give up threatening and abusive words, knowing that [He who is] both their true Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him [regardless of one’s earthly status].

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:19 The Greeks had a tradition of holding drinking parties (called, in the singular, a symposium) where the object was to sing the praises of the pagan gods while becoming drunk. Perhaps with this tradition in mind, Paul instructs believers to “be filled” instead with the Holy Spirit and to sing meaningful praises to God.
  2. Ephesians 5:22 The wife to her husband, not to men in general; not as inferior to him, nor in violation of her Christian ethics, but honoring her husband as protector and head of the home, respecting the responsibility of his position and his accountability to God.
  3. Ephesians 5:31 The bond between husband and wife supersedes all other relationships.
  4. Ephesians 6:5 Slavery was common in New Testament times (as well as in ancient Israel). One might become a slave through conquest, the commission of a crime, or destitution. Slaves were required to do their masters’ bidding and work without compensation (cf Luke 17:7-10). Elsewhere Paul advises slaves not to dwell on their circumstances, and to earn their freedom if they can (1 Cor 7:21). The admonitions here accurately reflect the slave/master relationship in the Roman Empire; since they were not compensated, slaves sometimes did only what they had to do to avoid punishment, and masters could be cruel disciplinarians.