Ephesians Chapter 5 continues Paul’s practical exhortations for Christian living, calling believers to imitate God and walk in love, following the example of Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross. Paul warns against sinful behaviors such as sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and coarse speech, urging believers instead to live as children of light, producing the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. He emphasizes the importance of discerning what pleases the Lord and encourages believers to be filled with the Spirit, expressing this fullness through worship, thanksgiving, and mutual encouragement.
The chapter then transitions into instructions regarding relationships within the household, particularly the relationship between husbands and wives. Paul draws a powerful parallel between the relationship of Christ and the church and the relationship between spouses, instructing wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. This section highlights the mutual respect, love, and unity that should characterize a Christ centered marriage, presenting it as a reflection of the deeper spiritual union between Christ and His church.
Chapter 5 (BBE)
1 Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;
2 And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.
3 But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others’ property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints;
4 And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise.
5 Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.