29 I (A)know that after my departure (B)fierce wolves will come in among you, (C)not sparing the flock; 30 and (D)from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore (E)be alert, remembering that (F)for three years I did not cease night or day (G)to admonish every one (H)with tears. 32 And now (I)I commend you to God and to (J)the word of his grace, which is able to (K)build you up and to give you (L)the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

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29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(A) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(B) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(C) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(D) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(E)

32 “Now I commit you to God(F) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(G) among all those who are sanctified.(H)

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Unity in the Body of Christ

I therefore, (A)a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to (B)walk in a manner worthy of (C)the calling to which you have been called, with all (D)humility and (E)gentleness, with (F)patience, (G)bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in (H)the bond of peace.

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Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy(B) of the calling(C) you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another(D) in love.(E) Make every effort to keep the unity(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.(G)

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Let there be (A)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (B)which are out of place, but instead (C)let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that (D)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((E)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (F)Let no one (G)deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (H)the wrath of God comes upon (I)the sons of disobedience. Therefore (J)do not become partners with them; for (K)at one time you were (L)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (M)Walk as children of light (for (N)the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and (O)try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (P)Take no part in the (Q)unfruitful (R)works of darkness, but instead (S)expose them. 12 For (T)it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when (U)anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

(V)“Awake, O sleeper,
    and (W)arise from the dead,
and (X)Christ will shine on you.”

15 (Y)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (Z)making the best use of the time, because (AA)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (AB)the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AC)do not get drunk with wine, for that is (AD)debauchery, but (AE)be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in (AF)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 (AG)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (AH)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 (AI)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 (AJ)Wives, (AK)submit to your own husbands, (AL)as to the Lord. 23 For (AM)the husband is the head of the wife even as (AN)Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is (AO)himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit (AP)in everything to their husbands.

25 (AQ)Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and (AR)gave himself up for her,

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Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(A) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(B) For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(C)—has any inheritance(D) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a](E) Let no one deceive you(F) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(G) comes on those who are disobedient.(H) Therefore do not be partners with them.

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

“Wake up, sleeper,(P)
    rise from the dead,(Q)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(R)

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

Instructions for Christian Households(AA)

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

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

25 Husbands, love your wives,(AG) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God

(A)“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but (B)have tested those (C)who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up (D)for my name's sake, and you (E)have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned (F)the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do (G)the works you did at first. If not, (H)I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

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I know your deeds,(A) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(B) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(C) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(D) and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(E) Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(F) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(G) from its place.

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