Be Imitators of God

1 aTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 and awalk in love, just as Christ also bloved 1you and cgave Himself up for us, an doffering and a sacrifice to God 2as a efragrant aroma.

3 But aimmorality 1or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among 2saints;

4 and there must be no afilthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which bare not fitting, but rather cgiving of thanks.

5 For this you know with certainty, that ano 1immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom bof Christ and God.

6 aLet no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things bthe wrath of God comes upon cthe sons of disobedience.

7 Therefore do not be apartakers with them;

8 for ayou were formerly bdarkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as cchildren of Light

9 (for athe fruit of the Light consists in all bgoodness and righteousness and truth),

10 1atrying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 aDo not participate in the unfruitful bdeeds of cdarkness, but instead even 1dexpose 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 awhen they are 1exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14 For this reason 1it says,

“aAwake, sleeper,

And arise from bthe dead,

And Christ cwill shine on you.”

15 Therefore 1be careful how you awalk, not bas unwise men but as wise,

16 1amaking the most of your time, because bthe days are evil.

17 So then do not be foolish, but aunderstand what the will of the Lord is.

18 And ado not get drunk with wine, 1for that is bdissipation, but be cfilled with the Spirit,

19 aspeaking to 1one another in bpsalms and chymns and spiritual dsongs, esinging and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

20 aalways giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to 1bGod, even the Father;

21 1aand be subject to one another in the 2bfear of Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

22 aWives, bbe subject to your own husbands, cas to the Lord.

23 For athe husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the bhead of the church, He Himself cbeing 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 aHusbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and bgave Himself up for her,

26 aso that He might sanctify her, having bcleansed her by the cwashing of water with dthe word,

27 that He might apresent to Himself the church 1in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be bholy and blameless.

28 So husbands ought also to alove 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 amembers of His bbody.

31 aFor this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall 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, each individual among you also is to alove his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she 1brespects her husband.