所以,做為蒙愛的兒女,你們要效法神; 要在愛中行事[a],就像基督也愛了我們,為我們捨棄了自己,做供物和祭物獻給神,成為馨香的氣味。 至於淫亂和一切汙穢,或是貪心,在你們中間連提都不可提,這樣才與聖徒相宜。 汙穢的言行、愚妄的話語、下流的笑話,這些都不合宜;反而倒要說感謝的話。 實際上你們應當清楚知道這一點:所有淫亂的、汙穢的,或貪心的——就是拜偶像的——在基督和神的國度裡都得不到繼業。

光明與黑暗

不要讓任何人用虛空的話把你們欺騙了;正是為了這些,神的震怒就臨到那些不信從的兒女[b]身上。 所以,不要與他們同夥。 你們從前原是黑暗,但如今在主裡就是光;你們要像屬於光的兒女行走, 原來屬於光的果子[c],就是一切良善、公義、真理; 10 要分辨什麼是主所喜悅的事。 11 你們不要參與那些屬黑暗結不出果子的事,反而要把那些事揭露出來, 12 因為他們暗中所做的,連說出來也是可恥的。 13 然而,一切被光所揭露的事,都要成為明顯的, 14 因為使一切成為明顯的,就是光。所以有話說:

「醒過來!睡著的人哪,從死人中起來吧!
基督就要光照你了!」

基督徒生活的一致性

15 所以,你們要仔細察看怎樣行事為人,不要像沒有智慧的人,而要像有智慧的人; 16 要把握機會[d],因為這時代是邪惡的。 17 為此,不要做愚妄的人,而要領悟主的旨意是什麼。 18 不要醉酒,醉酒帶來[e]放蕩,而要被聖靈充滿:

19 用詩篇、聖詩、屬靈的詩歌彼此對說,
從你們的心裡,歌頌讚美主;
20 奉我們主耶穌基督的名,
為一切常常感謝父神;
21 懷著敬畏基督[f]的心,彼此服從。

妻子與丈夫

22 你們做妻子的,要服從[g]自己的丈夫,如同服從主, 23 因為丈夫是妻子的頭,正如基督是教會的頭;他也是這身體的救主。 24 而且教會怎樣服從基督,妻子也照樣要在一切事上服從[h]丈夫。 25 你們做丈夫的,要愛自己的妻子,就像基督也愛了教會,為她捨棄了自己。 26 基督這麼做[i],是要藉著話語,用水[j]的洗滌而潔淨教會,使她分別為聖, 27 為要給自己預備一個榮耀的教會,沒有汙漬、皺紋或任何這類的事,卻要她成為聖潔、毫無瑕疵。 28 照樣,丈夫也應該愛自己的妻子,就像愛自己的身體一樣;那愛自己妻子的,就是愛自己。 29 從來沒有人恨惡自己的身體,總是保養、顧惜它,就像基督[k]對待教會那樣, 30 因為我們是基督身體的各個部分[l][m]

31 「為這緣故,人將離開父母,
與妻子結合,
兩個人就成為一體。」[n]

32 這是極大的奧祕,但我是指著基督和教會說的。 33 不過,你們每一個人也要愛自己的妻子,就像愛自己一樣;而妻子要敬重[o]丈夫。

Footnotes

  1. 以弗所書 5:2 行事——原文直譯「行走」。
  2. 以弗所書 5:6 不信從的兒女——或譯作「悖逆的人」。
  3. 以弗所書 5:9 屬於光的果子——有古抄本作「聖靈的果子」。參《加拉太書》5:22。
  4. 以弗所書 5:16 要把握機會——原文直譯「要贖回時機」。
  5. 以弗所書 5:18 帶來——原文直譯「就是」。
  6. 以弗所書 5:21 基督——有古抄本作「神」。
  7. 以弗所書 5:22 有古抄本沒有「服從」。
  8. 以弗所書 5:24 有古抄本附「自己的」。
  9. 以弗所書 5:26 基督這麼做——輔助詞語。
  10. 以弗所書 5:26 用水——或譯作「在水裡」。
  11. 以弗所書 5:29 基督——有古抄本作「主」。
  12. 以弗所書 5:30 部分——或譯作「肢體」。
  13. 以弗所書 5:30 有古抄本附「是屬他的肉,屬他的骨」。
  14. 以弗所書 5:31 《創世記》2:24。
  15. 以弗所書 5:33 敬重——或譯作「敬畏」。

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality(B) and any impurity(C) or greed(D) should not even be heard of[a] among you, as is proper for saints. Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral(E) or impure(F) or greedy(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom(H) of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.[b] Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light(J) in the Lord. Walk as children of light(K) for the fruit of the light[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth(L) 10 discerning(M) what is pleasing(N) to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless(O) works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,(P) 14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper,(Q) and rise up from the dead,(R)
and the Messiah will shine on you.[d](S)

Consistency in the Christian Life

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time,[e](T) because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand(U) what the Lord’s will(V) is. 18 And don’t get drunk(W) with wine,(X) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:(Y)

19 speaking to one another
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ.(Z)

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives,(AA) submit[f](AB) to your own husbands(AC) as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is the head of the wife(AD) as Christ is the head(AE) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.(AF) 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives,(AG) just as Christ loved(AH) the church and gave Himself(AI) for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[g] her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.(AJ) 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of His body.[h]

31 For this reason a man will leave
his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,(AK)
and the two will become one flesh.(AL)[i]

32 This mystery(AM) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:3 Or be named
  2. Ephesians 5:6 Lit sons of disobedience
  3. Ephesians 5:9 Other mss read fruit of the Spirit
  4. Ephesians 5:14 This poem may have been an early Christian hymn based on several passages in Isaiah; Is 9:2; 26:19; 40:1; 51:17; 52:1; 60:1.
  5. Ephesians 5:16 Lit buying back the time
  6. Ephesians 5:22 Other mss omit submit
  7. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  8. Ephesians 5:30 Other mss add and of His flesh and of His bones
  9. Ephesians 5:31 Gn 2:24