Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

²¹ and submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

²² Women, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, as the congregation is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be subject to their husbands in all things.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation and gave himself for it, ²⁶ to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word, ²⁷ to make it for himself a glorious congregation, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but to be holy and without blame. ²⁸ This is how men ought to love their wives: as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but cares for and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the congregation. ³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. ³¹ On this account must a man leave father and mother and continue with his wife, and the two will be made one flesh. ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak as between Christ and the congregation. ³³ Nevertheless, see to it that every one of you loves his wife truly, even as himself. And let the wife see that she fears her husband.

How children should behave toward their fathers and mothers; likewise fathers toward their children, servants toward their masters, and masters toward their servants. An exhortation to the spiritual battle, and what weapons Christians should fight with.

6 Children, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lord, for this is right. ² Honour your father and mother (which is the first commandment that has any promise with it), ³ so that you may prosper and live long on the earth. ⁴ And ye fathers, do not move your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

⁵ Servants, be obedient to your carnal masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ – ⁶ not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will: ⁷ serving the Lord, and not men. ⁸ And remember, whatever good thing anyone does, that he will receive back again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

⁹ And ye masters, do the same toward your servants, putting away threatenings. And remember that even your master also is in heaven; neither is there any respect of person with him.