Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁷ I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that henceforth you must not walk like other Gentiles walk, in vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ blinded in their understanding, being alienated from the life that is in God, through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts; ¹⁹ who, being past repentance, have given themselves over to wantonness, to work all manner of uncleanness, even with greediness. ²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ – ²¹ if it so be that you have heard him, and are taught in him, inasmuch as the truth is in Jesus. ²² So then, as concerning the former lifestyle, lay away from you that old man, which is corrupt through deceptive desires and affections, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and put on that new man, which is shapen in the image of God in righteousness and true holiness.

²⁵ Therefore put away lying, and let every person speak truth to his neighbour, seeing as we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry, but sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath; ²⁷ neither give place to the backbiter. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no more, but let him rather do good work with his hands, so that he may have something to give to him who has need.

²⁹ Let no unwholesome talk proceed out of your mouths, but that which is good to edify when needful, so that it may find favour with the hearers. ³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, fierceness, and wrath, shouting and cursing, be put away from you, with all maliciousness. ³² Be kind to one another, and merciful, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake forgave you.

He exhorts them to love. He warns them to beware of uncleanness, covetousness, foolish talking, and false counsel; to be circumspect, to avoid drunkenness, to rejoice and to be thankful to God, and to submit themselves one to another. He teaches how women should obey their husbands, and how lovingly men ought to treat their wives.

5 Be followers of God as dear children, ² and walk in love, even as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God.