所以,做为蒙爱的儿女,你们要效法神; 要在爱中行事[a],就像基督也爱了我们,为我们舍弃了自己,做供物和祭物献给神,成为馨香的气味。 至于淫乱和一切污秽,或是贪心,在你们中间连提都不可提,这样才与圣徒相宜。 污秽的言行、愚妄的话语、下流的笑话,这些都不合宜;反而倒要说感谢的话。 实际上你们应当清楚知道这一点:所有淫乱的、污秽的,或贪心的——就是拜偶像的——在基督和神的国度里都得不到继业。

光明与黑暗

不要让任何人用虚空的话把你们欺骗了;正是为了这些,神的震怒就临到那些不信从的儿女[b]身上。 所以,不要与他们同伙。 你们从前原是黑暗,但如今在主里就是光;你们要像属于光的儿女行走, 原来属于光的果子[c],就是一切良善、公义、真理; 10 要分辨什么是主所喜悦的事。 11 你们不要参与那些属黑暗结不出果子的事,反而要把那些事揭露出来, 12 因为他们暗中所做的,连说出来也是可耻的。 13 然而,一切被光所揭露的事,都要成为明显的, 14 因为使一切成为明显的,就是光。所以有话说:

“醒过来!睡着的人哪,从死人中起来吧!
基督就要光照你了!”

基督徒生活的一致性

15 所以,你们要仔细察看怎样行事为人,不要像没有智慧的人,而要像有智慧的人; 16 要把握机会[d],因为这时代是邪恶的。 17 为此,不要做愚妄的人,而要领悟主的旨意是什么。 18 不要醉酒,醉酒带来[e]放荡,而要被圣灵充满:

19 用诗篇、圣诗、属灵的诗歌彼此对说,
从你们的心里,歌颂赞美主;
20 奉我们主耶稣基督的名,
为一切常常感谢父神;
21 怀着敬畏基督[f]的心,彼此服从。

妻子与丈夫

22 你们做妻子的,要服从[g]自己的丈夫,如同服从主, 23 因为丈夫是妻子的头,正如基督是教会的头;他也是这身体的救主。 24 而且教会怎样服从基督,妻子也照样要在一切事上服从[h]丈夫。 25 你们做丈夫的,要爱自己的妻子,就像基督也爱了教会,为她舍弃了自己。 26 基督这么做[i],是要藉着话语,用水[j]的洗涤而洁净教会,使她分别为圣, 27 为要给自己预备一个荣耀的教会,没有污渍、皱纹或任何这类的事,却要她成为圣洁、毫无瑕疵。 28 照样,丈夫也应该爱自己的妻子,就像爱自己的身体一样;那爱自己妻子的,就是爱自己。 29 从来没有人恨恶自己的身体,总是保养、顾惜它,就像基督[k]对待教会那样, 30 因为我们是基督身体的各个部分[l][m]

31 “为这缘故,人将离开父母,
与妻子结合,
两个人就成为一体。”[n]

32 这是极大的奥秘,但我是指着基督和教会说的。 33 不过,你们每一个人也要爱自己的妻子,就像爱自己一样;而妻子要敬重[o]丈夫。

Footnotes

  1. 以弗所书 5:2 行事——原文直译“行走”。
  2. 以弗所书 5:6 不信从的儿女——或译作“悖逆的人”。
  3. 以弗所书 5:9 属于光的果子——有古抄本作“圣灵的果子”。参《加拉太书》5:22。
  4. 以弗所书 5:16 要把握机会——原文直译“要赎回时机”。
  5. 以弗所书 5:18 带来——原文直译“就是”。
  6. 以弗所书 5:21 基督——有古抄本作“神”。
  7. 以弗所书 5:22 有古抄本没有“服从”。
  8. 以弗所书 5:24 有古抄本附“自己的”。
  9. 以弗所书 5:26 基督这么做——辅助词语。
  10. 以弗所书 5:26 用水——或译作“在水里”。
  11. 以弗所书 5:29 基督——有古抄本作“主”。
  12. 以弗所书 5:30 部分——或译作“肢体”。
  13. 以弗所书 5:30 有古抄本附“是属他的肉,属他的骨”。
  14. 以弗所书 5:31 《创世记》2:24。
  15. 以弗所书 5:33 敬重——或译作“敬畏”。

Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,

and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,

and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;

for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,

become not, then, partakers with them,

for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,

for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,

10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,

11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,

12 for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,

13 and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;

14 wherefore he saith, `Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'

15 See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil;

17 because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what [is] the will of the Lord,

18 and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,

19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

20 giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father;

21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,

23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body,

24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also [are] the wives to their own husbands in everything.

25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,

26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying,

27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;

28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love;

29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,

30 because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;

31 `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;'

32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;

33 but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.