5:1 imitators of God Paul is commanding—not suggesting—that believers imitate God in how they treat one another. Compare 1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess 2:14.

beloved children Alludes to believers’ adoption into God’s family (Eph 1:5; Gal 4:6–7).

5:2 live in love Christ provides the model for how Christians are to live in love; His sacrificial death is the definition of love.

offering and sacrifice This description of Christ’s death draws on language from the sacrificial system in the ot. The first term, prosphora, alludes to that which the worshiper brings to God. The second term, thysia, refers to the sacrificing of animals.

fragrant smell In the ot, sacrifices are described as having an aroma pleasing to God (e.g., Exod 29:25; Lev 1:9).

5:3 sexual immorality The Greek word used here, porneia, refers to any kind of sexual immorality.

greediness The Greek word used here, pleonexia, refers to the consuming desire to possess more than others, regardless of actual need. Paul calls greedy people idolaters (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5).

saints See note on Eph 1:1.

5:4 or coarse jesting Paul instructs believers to avoid crude humor (compare 4:29; Col 3:8).

thanksgiving Believers should be known for expressions of gratitude to God (2 Cor 4:15; 9:11; Eph 5:20; Col 4:2).

Prayers in Paul’s Letters Table

5:5 idolater Paul ties idolatry to greed. See note on Eph 5:3.

kingdom of Christ and God Refers to the domain in which Christ reigns as King. In acknowledgment of Christ’s rule, believers are called to exhibit obedience, loyalty, and love. Those who continue to participate in illicit behavior essentially are resisting Christ’s reign and acting as though they reject an inheritance in His kingdom. In the Gospels, the kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven) is a central theme of Jesus’ teaching (e.g., Matt 4:17; 13:10–52; see note on Mark 1:15).

5:6 with empty words Likely refers to attempts to trivialize or justify illicit behavior.

wrath Refers to God’s righteous judgment upon those who do evil.

sons of disobedience Refers to those who oppose God.

5:8 darkness Symbolizes the realm dominated by sin and death (compare Eph 6:12; Col 1:13). Darkness also can refer to lack of understanding (e.g., Pss 82:5; Rom 2:19).

light Represents righteousness and life (compare 2 Cor 6:14; Job 33:30); also refers to understanding (Psa 119:105, 130). See note on 1 John 1:5.

children of light A common label (particularly among sectarian groups) for those who are in right relationship with God. The Qumran community referred to itself in this manner (see the Rule of the Community 1:9–11).

5:9 fruit Refers to natural results. Rooted in Christ, the believer’s life should produce Christlike virtues.

5:10 well-pleasing Believers are called to adopt Christ’s standards and desires as their own. Compare Rom 12:1–2.

5:11 unfruitful deeds of darkness Refers to the illicit behavior Paul mentioned in Eph 5:3–5. Such actions are characteristic of sin and death (v. 8).

5:12 shameful even to speak about Illicit behavior should not be a topic of conversation (v. 4).

5:14 Wake up, sleeper, and rise from the dead This is not a direct quote from any ot passage. Paul might be alluding to Job 14:12 or Isa 26:19; he also might be borrowing from an early Christian hymn or traditions related to baptism. Sleep is a common metaphor for death.

5:15 but as wise The Bible closely associates wisdom with honoring and obeying God (e.g., Prov 1:7).

5:16 days are evil Refers to the current times, as opposed to the coming time when Jesus will return and vanquish evil. The current time (or present age) is characterized by disobedience and the corrupting influence of Satan. Compare Eph 2:2; Gal 1:4; 2 Cor 4:4.

5:17 foolish Refers to being ignorant of God’s values, concerns, and authority (compare Pss 14:1; 53:1).

will of the Lord God’s will is to bring all of creation under the authority of Christ (Eph 1:9–10).

5:18 be filled by the Spirit In the Greek text of Ephesians, this command provides the basis for Paul’s statements in vv. 19–21, all of which describe the outworking of being filled with the Spirit.

5:19 psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Refers to a variety of songs used in Christian worship, probably including the ot psalms (compare Col 3:16).

5:21 being subject to one another Paul calls on believers to honor Christ by honoring, loving, and helping one another.

5:22 wives While the cultural model for marriage in the Graeco-Roman world emphasized male patriarchal leadership, Paul’s model is based mutual love and respect (Eph 5:28, 33) and grounded in the ot creation story (v. 31 cites Gen 2:24). See note on Eph 5:21; note on v. 25.

5:23 Christ is the head of the church Paul uses the relationship between Christ and the Church as an analogy for the relationship between husband and wife. The wife’s submission, which was expected by Graeco-Roman values, is placed in the context of spiritual submission to Christ (see note on 5:22–6:9). Likewise, husbands, as the heads of households in Graeco-Roman society, are instructed by Paul to show their wives respect (compare v. 25 and note). Paul contextualizes Graeco-Roman values within the larger perspective of Christ’s self-sacrificial love.

5:25 Husbands, love your wives Paul is referring primarily to sacrificial actions for the benefit of the wife. The model for this kind of love is Christ’s death on the cross.

5:26 washing of water Possibly an allusion to the imagery of baptism. This image is applied to Christ’s care for His Church. Alternatively, Paul could be referring to an inward cleansing accomplished by the power of the gospel to free believers from sin.

Baptism

word The Greek word used here, rhēma, refers in this context to the gospel—the proclamation of Christ’s sacrificial love (v. 25).

5:27 not having a spot or wrinkle Paul alludes to bridal garments as symbols of purity before God (compare Zech 3:3–5; Rev 7:13–14). Other nt writers figuratively portray Christ as a bridegroom and the renewed Church as His bride (Matt 25:1–13; Rev 21:2, 9).

holy and blameless The glorious state of the Church that was the purpose of Christ’s sacrificial death.

5:29 nourishes and cherishes See note on Eph 5:31.

5:31 two will become one flesh This quotation of Gen 2:24 supports Paul’s statement in Eph 5:29: A husband is to love his wife as himself because, in the context of marriage, they have become one body.

5:32 mystery is great Refers to the union that believers have with Christ as members of His Church.

Metaphors for the Church