行事與聖徒的身分相稱

因此,你們既然是上帝疼愛的兒女,就要效法上帝。 要以愛心待人,像基督愛我們一樣,祂為我們犧牲自己作為獻給上帝的馨香供物和祭物。

一切淫亂、污穢或貪婪的事在你們當中連提都不要提,才合乎聖徒的身分。 污言穢語、愚昧粗俗的談笑都不合宜,總要說感恩的話才好。 因為你們清楚知道,淫亂的人、污穢的人,還有貪婪的人,就是拜偶像的人,在基督和上帝的國裡沒有立足之地。 不要被虛空的道理欺騙,因為上帝的烈怒必臨到上述那些悖逆的人。 所以,你們不要與他們同流合污。

你們從前活在黑暗中,現在既然活在主的光明中,行事為人就該像光明的兒女。 光明總是結出良善、公義和真理的果子。 10 你們要察驗什麼是主所喜悅的事, 11 不可參與那些黑暗無益的事,反要揭發斥責, 12 因為那些人暗地裡做的事就是提起來都覺得可恥。 13 然而,一切的事被光一照,都會真相大白, 14 因為光能使一切顯明出來。因此有人說:

「沉睡的人啊,醒來吧!
從死人中起來吧,
基督要光照你了!」

15 因此,你們要注意自己的生活,不要像愚昧人,要像有智慧的人。 16 要愛惜光陰,因為現今是個邪惡的世代。 17 所以,不要做糊塗人,要明白主的旨意。 18 不要醉酒,醉酒會使人放蕩,要被聖靈充滿。 19 要用詩篇、聖樂、靈歌互相激勵,從心底唱出讚美主的旋律。 20 凡事總要奉我們主耶穌基督的名感謝父上帝。

夫婦之道

21 你們要存敬畏基督的心彼此順服。

22 作妻子的要順服自己的丈夫,如同順服主基督。 23 因為丈夫是妻子的頭,正如基督是祂的身體——教會的頭,又是教會的救主。 24 教會怎樣順服基督,妻子也要照樣凡事順服丈夫。

25 作丈夫的要愛妻子,正如基督愛教會,為教會捨己, 26 好藉著自己的道用水洗淨教會,使她聖潔, 27 以便把聖潔、完美、沒有污點、皺紋等瑕疵的榮耀教會呈獻給祂自己。 28 同樣,作丈夫的也要愛妻子如同愛自己的身體,愛妻子就是愛自己。 29 沒有人會厭惡自己的身體,人總是珍惜保養身體,正如基督對待教會一樣, 30 因為我們是祂身上的肢體。 31 「因此,人要離開父母,與妻子結合,二人成為一體。」 32 這是一個極大的奧祕,然而我是指著基督和教會的關係說的。 33 總之,你們作丈夫的都要愛妻子如同愛自己,作妻子的也要敬重丈夫。

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

And do not let sexual immorality, or any impurity, or greed be named among you, as these are not proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse joking, which are not fitting. Instead, give thanks. For this you know, that no sexually immoral or impure person, or one who is greedy, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Walk as Children of Light

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth— 10 proving what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things are exposed when they are revealed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,
    arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

15 See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise men, 16 making the most of the time because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 20 Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 being submissive to one another in the fear of God.

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives, be submissive to your own husbands as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head and Savior of the church, which is His body. 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 In this way men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord cares for the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.”[a] 32 This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Living in the Light

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.[b] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.

31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”[c] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Some manuscripts read loved you.
  2. 5:26 Greek washed by water with the word.
  3. 5:31 Gen 2:24.

Chapter 5

So be imitators of God,[a] as beloved children,(A) and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.(B) Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,(C) no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.(D) Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.(E)

Duty to Live in the Light. (F)Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.[b] So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,(G) for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.(H) 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.(I) 11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,(J) 12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,(K) 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:(L)

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”[c]

15 [d]Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,(M) 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,(N) 19 addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,(O) 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.(P)

Wives and Husbands. 21 [e]Be subordinate to one another(Q) out of reverence for Christ.[f] 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.(R) 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.(S) 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her(T) 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,(U) 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.(V) 28 So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.(W)

31 “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.”(X)

32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.(Y) 33 In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Imitators of God: in forgiving (Eph 4:32) and in loving (as exhibited in how Christ loved us).
  2. 5:6 See note on Eph 2:2.
  3. 5:14 An early Christian hymn, possibly from a baptismal liturgy. For the content compare Eph 2:5–6; 3:9 and Is 60:1.
  4. 5:15–16, 19–20 The wording is similar to Col 4:5 and Eph 3:16–17.
  5. 5:21–6:9 Cf. notes on Col 3:18–4:1 and 1 Pt 2:18–3:7 for a similar listing of household duties where the inferior is admonished first (wives, Eph 5:22; children, Eph 6:1; slaves, Eph 6:5), then the superior (husbands, Eph 5:25; fathers, Eph 6:4; masters, Eph 6:9). Paul varies this pattern by an emphasis on mutuality (see Eph 5:20); use of Old Testament material about father and mother in Eph 6:2; the judgment to come for slave-owners (you have a Master in heaven, Eph 6:9); and above all the initial principle of subordination to one another under Christ, thus effectively undermining exclusive claims to domination by one party. Into the section on wives and husbands an elaborate teaching on Christ and the church has been woven (Eph 5:22–33).
  6. 5:21–33 The apostle exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Gn 2:24 that marriage is a divine institution (Eph 5:31), Paul sees Christian marriage as taking on a new meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the church. The wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the church’s service to Christ (Eph 5:22, 24), and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the church (Eph 5:25–30). Paul gives to the Genesis passage its highest meaning in the light of the union of Christ and the church, of which Christlike loyalty and devotion in Christian marriage are a clear reflection (Eph 5:31–33).

Follow God’s example,(A) therefore, as dearly loved children(B) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(C) and gave himself up for us(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(E)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(I) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(J)—has any inheritance(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](L) Let no one deceive you(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(N) comes on those who are disobedient.(O) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(Q) (for the fruit(R) of the light consists in all goodness,(S) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(T) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(U) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,(W)
    rise from the dead,(X)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(Y)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(Z)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(AA) because the days are evil.(AB) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(AC) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(AD) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(AE) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(AF) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(AG) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(AH)

21 Submit to one another(AI) out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(AJ) as you do to the Lord.(AK) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(AL) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(AM) in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,(AN) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(AO) 26 to make her holy,(AP) cleansing[b] her by the washing(AQ) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(AR) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(AS) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(AT) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(AU) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c](AV) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(AW) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
  2. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  3. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24