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Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;(A) 18 darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,(B) 19 they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.(C) 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires,(D) 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,(E) 24 and put on[a] the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.(F)

IV. Daily Conduct, an Expression of Unity[b]

Rules for the New Life. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.(G) 26 Be angry but do not sin;(H) do not let the sun set on your anger,[c] 27 and do not leave room for the devil.(I) 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work[d] with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.(J) 29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.(K) 30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.[e] 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.(L) 32 [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.(M)

Chapter 5

1 So be imitators of God,[f] as beloved children,(N) 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.(O) 3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,(P) 4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.(Q) 5 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.(R)

Duty to Live in the Light. 6 (S)Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.[g] 7 So do not be associated with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,(T) 9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.(U) 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.(V) 11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,(W) 12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,(X) 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:(Y)

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

15 [i]Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,(Z) 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,(AA) 19 addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,(AB) 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.(AC)

Wives and Husbands. 21 [j]Be subordinate to one another(AD) out of reverence for Christ.[k] 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.(AE) 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.(AF) 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(AG) 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,(AH) 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.(AI) 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.(AJ)

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.”(AK)

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

Chapter 6

Children and Parents. 1 Children, obey your parents [in the Lord], for this is right.(AM) 2 “Honor your father and mother.”(AN) This is the first commandment with a promise, 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.(AO)

Slaves and Masters. 5 Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,(AP) 6 not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,(AQ) 7 willingly serving the Lord and not human beings, 8 knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 4:24 Put on: in baptism. See note on Gal 3:27.
  2. 4:25–6:20 For similar exhortations to a morally good life in response to God’s gift of faith, see notes on Rom 12:1–13:14 and Gal 5:13–26.
  3. 4:26 If angry, seek reconciliation that day, not giving the devil (Eph 6:11) opportunity to lead into sin.
  4. 4:28 Honest work: literally, “the good.” His [own] hands: some manuscripts have the full phrase as in 1 Cor 4:12.
  5. 4:30 See note on Eph 1:13.
  6. 5:1 Imitators of God: in forgiving (Eph 4:32) and in loving (as exhibited in how Christ loved us).
  7. 5:6 See note on Eph 2:2.
  8. 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.
  9. 5:15–16, 19–20 The wording is similar to Col 4:5 and Eph 3:16–17.
  10. 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).
  11. 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).
Close GNT

Ephesians 4:17-6:9
Good News Translation

The New Life in Christ

17 In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless 18 and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. 19 They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.

20 That was not what you learned about Christ! 21 You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 (A)So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 24 (B)and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

25 (C)No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ. 26 (D)If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. 27 Don't give the Devil a chance. 28 If you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor. 29 Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. 30 And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. 32 (E)Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Living in the Light

5 Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. 2 (F)Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. 4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God. 5 You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. 7 So have nothing at all to do with such people. 8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, 9 for it is the light[a] that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Try to learn what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light. (12 It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.) 13 And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; 14 for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light.[b] That is why it is said,

“Wake up, sleeper,
    and rise from death,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people. 16 (G)Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. 17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 (H)Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts. 20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

Wives and Husbands

21 Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.

22 (I)Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body. 24 And so wives must submit themselves completely to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ.

25 (J)Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, 27 in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty—pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection. 28 Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. (29 None of us ever hate our own bodies. Instead, we feed them, and take care of them, just as Christ does the church; 30 for we are members of his body.) 31 (K)As the scripture says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.” 32 There is a deep secret truth revealed in this scripture, which I understand as applying to Christ and the church. 33 But it also applies to you: every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 (L)Children, it is your Christian duty to[c] obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. 2 (M)“Respect your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise added: 3 “so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.”

4 (N)Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction.

Slaves and Masters

5 (O)Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ. 6 Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves of Christ. 7 Do your work as slaves cheerfully, as though you served the Lord, and not merely human beings. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each of us, whether slave or free, for the good work we do.

9 (P)Masters, behave in the same way toward your slaves and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:9 the light; some manuscripts have the Spirit.
  2. Ephesians 5:14 anything that is clearly revealed becomes light; or it is light that clearly reveals everything.
  3. Ephesians 6:1 Some manuscripts do not have it is your Christian duty to.
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Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Old Life and the New

17 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19 They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 That is not the way you learned Christ! 21 For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Rules for the New Life

25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,[a] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.[b] 5 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us[c] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Renounce Pagan Ways

3 But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5 Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be associated with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake!
    Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian Household

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body.[d] 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[e] for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; 6 not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, 8 knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.

9 And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:29 Other ancient authorities read building up faith
  2. Ephesians 4:32 Other ancient authorities read us
  3. Ephesians 5:2 Other ancient authorities read you
  4. Ephesians 5:30 Other ancient authorities add of his flesh and of his bones
  5. Ephesians 6:1 Other ancient authorities lack in the Lord
Listen to Ephesians 4:17-6:9
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Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New American Standard Bible

The Christian’s Walk

17 (A)So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, (B)that you are to no longer walk just as the [a]Gentiles also walk, in the (C)futility of their minds, 18 being (D)darkened in their understanding, [b](E)excluded from the life of God because of the (F)ignorance that is in them, because of the (G)hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having (H)become callous, (I)have given themselves up to (J)indecent behavior [c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not (K)learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you (L)have heard Him and have (M)been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to (N)rid yourselves of the (O)old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the (P)lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be (Q)renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to (R)put on the (S)new [e]self, which [f](T)in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

25 Therefore, (U)ridding yourselves of falsehood, (V)speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are (W)parts of one another. 26 (X)Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not (Y)give the devil [g]an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather (Z)he must labor, (AA)producing with his own hands what is good, (AB)so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no [h](AC)unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for (AD)edification [i]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 (AE)Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [j]by whom you were (AF)sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (AG)All bitterness, wrath, anger, [k]clamor, and slander must be (AH)removed from you, along with all (AI)malice. 32 (AJ)Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, (AK)just as God in Christ also has forgiven [l]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 (AL)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (AM)walk in love, just as Christ also (AN)loved [m]you and (AO)gave Himself up for us, an (AP)offering and a sacrifice to God [n]as a (AQ)fragrant aroma.

3 But (AR)sexual immorality [o]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among [p]saints; 4 and there must be no (AS)filthiness [q]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which (AT)are not fitting, but rather (AU)giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that (AV)no sexually immoral or [r]impure or greedy person, which [s]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (AW)of Christ and God.

6 (AX)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things (AY)the wrath of God comes upon (AZ)the [t]sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become (BA)partners with them; 8 for (BB)you were once (BC)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as (BD)children of light 9 (for (BE)the fruit of the light consists in all (BF)goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [u](BG)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (BH)Do not participate in the useless (BI)deeds of (BJ)darkness, but instead even (BK)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (BL)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [v]it says,

“(BM)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from (BN)the dead,
And Christ (BO)will shine on you.”

15 So then, [w]be careful how you (BP)walk, not (BQ)as unwise people but as wise, 16 [x](BR)making the most of your time, because (BS)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (BT)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (BU)do not get drunk with wine, [y]in which there is (BV)debauchery, but be (BW)filled with the Spirit, 19 (BX)speaking to [z]one another in (BY)psalms and (BZ)hymns and spiritual (CA)songs, (CB)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (CC)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (CD)God and Father; 21 [aa](CE)and subject yourselves to one another in the [ab](CF)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

22 (CG)Wives, (CH)subject yourselves to your own husbands, (CI)as to the Lord. 23 For (CJ)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (CK)head of the church, He Himself (CL)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 (CM)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (CN)gave Himself up for her, 26 (CO)so that He might sanctify her, having (CP)cleansed her by the (CQ)washing of water with (CR)the word, 27 that He might (CS)present to Himself the church [ac]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (CT)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to (CU)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 (CV)parts of His (CW)body. 31 (CX)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 (CY)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (CZ)respects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 (DA)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (DB)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

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

Slaves and Masters

5 (DE)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [ad]masters according to the flesh, with (DF)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (DG)as to Christ; 6 (DH)not [ae]by way of [af]eye-service, as (DI)people-pleasers, but as (DJ)slaves of Christ, (DK)doing the will of God from the [ag]heart. 7 With goodwill [ah]render service, (DL)as to the Lord, and not to people, 8 (DM)knowing that (DN)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (DO)whether slave or free.

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

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:17 I.e., unbelieving Gentiles
  2. Ephesians 4:18 Or alienated
  3. Ephesians 4:19 Or greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity
  4. Ephesians 4:22 Lit person
  5. Ephesians 4:24 Lit person
  6. Ephesians 4:24 Lit according to God
  7. Ephesians 4:27 Lit a place
  8. Ephesians 4:29 Lit rotten
  9. Ephesians 4:29 Lit of the need
  10. Ephesians 4:30 Lit in
  11. Ephesians 4:31 Or shouting
  12. Ephesians 4:32 Two early mss us
  13. Ephesians 5:2 One early ms us
  14. Ephesians 5:2 Lit for an odor of fragrance
  15. Ephesians 5:3 Lit and all
  16. Ephesians 5:3 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  17. Ephesians 5:4 Lit and
  18. Ephesians 5:5 I.e., morally impure
  19. Ephesians 5:5 Lit is
  20. Ephesians 5:6 I.e., people opposed to God
  21. Ephesians 5:10 Lit putting to the test what
  22. Ephesians 5:14 Or He
  23. Ephesians 5:15 Lit look carefully
  24. Ephesians 5:16 Lit redeeming the time
  25. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  26. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  27. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
  28. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for
  29. Ephesians 5:27 Lit glorious
  30. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  31. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  32. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  33. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  34. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
Listen to Ephesians 4:17-6:9
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Ephesians 4:17-6:9
New International Version

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(B) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(C) and separated from the life of God(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(E) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(F) they have given themselves over(G) to sensuality(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(I) your old self,(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(K) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(L) 24 and to put on(M) the new self,(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(O)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(P) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(Q) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(R) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(S) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(T) doing something useful with their own hands,(U) that they may have something to share with those in need.(V)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(W) but only what is helpful for building others up(X) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(Y) with whom you were sealed(Z) for the day of redemption.(AA) 31 Get rid of(AB) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(AC) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(AD) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(AE) 5 1 Follow God’s example,(AF) therefore, as dearly loved children(AG) 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(AH) and gave himself up for us(AI) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(AJ)

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(AK) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(AL) because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(AM) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(AN) 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater(AO)—has any inheritance(AP) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[b](AQ) 6 Let no one deceive you(AR) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(AS) comes on those who are disobedient.(AT) 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once(AU) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(AV) 9 (for the fruit(AW) of the light consists in all goodness,(AX) righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.(AY) 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,(AZ) but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light(BA) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,(BB)
    rise from the dead,(BC)
    and Christ will shine on you.”(BD)

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

Instructions for Christian Households(BM)

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

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

25 Husbands, love your wives,(BS) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(BT) 26 to make her holy,(BU) cleansing[c] her by the washing(BV) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(BW) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(BX) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(BY) 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.(BZ) 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.”[d](CA) 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(CB) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(CC) 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[e](CD)

4 Fathers,[f] do not exasperate your children;(CE) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(CF)

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(CG) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(CH) just as you would obey Christ.(CI) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(CJ) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(CK) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(CL) whether they are slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(CM) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(CN) with him.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)
  2. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
  3. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  4. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
  5. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
  6. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
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Ephesians 3
Philippians 1
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