The Bible — World English Bible

Ephesians 5

In brief

Ephesians 5 describes a concrete Christian life. Paul calls us to imitate God by walking in love, following the example of Christ who gave himself up. He contrasts the old life of darkness with the identity of children of light, invites us to live wisely, to redeem the time and to be filled with the Spirit rather than with wine. The chapter ends on marriage, shaped by Christ's love for his church. Traditions read this passage in different ways, especially on submission and leadership in the couple.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-7Imitate God and walk in love
  2. v. 8-14Children of light: wake up, Christ will shine on you
  3. v. 15-17Live wisely and redeem the time
  4. v. 18-21Be filled with the Spirit and submit to one another
  5. v. 22-33Marriage, a picture of Christ and the church

1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

6Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

7Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

10proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

12For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

14Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;

21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.

28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

29For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;

30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”

32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.

33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Key verses

Verse 1-2
Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Paul bases the call to love on the identity of beloved children. The model is Christ, who gave himself up: Christian love is measured by that gift.

Verse 8
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

The verse changes the way we see ourselves: once darkness, now light in the Lord. Conduct flows from an identity already received, before being an effort.

Verse 16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Redeeming the time means seizing opportunities instead of letting them slip by. Paul sees wisdom in this, in days he describes as evil.

Verse 18
Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Paul contrasts the drunkenness of wine with the fullness of the Spirit. The verb suggests a state to be kept up, and what follows shows its fruits: praise, thanksgiving and mutual submission.

Verse 25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

The call to husbands is to love as Christ loved the church, to the point of giving himself. Believers read here, depending on their tradition, different views of leadership in the couple, but all recognize the sacrificial nature of this love.

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Frequently asked questions about Ephesians 5

What does redeeming the time mean in Ephesians 5:16?

The expression invites us to seize opportunities and make good use of the time available, rather than let it slip by. Some translations say making the most of the time or making good use of the time. Paul sees this as a mark of wisdom, in a world he considers dangerous.

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

Paul contrasts the drunkenness of wine, which leads to debauchery, with the fullness of the Spirit, which shows itself in singing, thanksgiving and mutual submission. Christian traditions differ on how to understand this fullness, but all see in it a life guided by the Spirit of God.

What does Ephesians 5 say about the wife's submission and the husband's love?

The passage begins with the mutual submission of believers, then addresses wives and husbands. It calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, by giving himself. Churches interpret the idea of leadership in the couple in different ways, but the text stresses love, respect and self-giving.

Why does Paul speak of light and darkness?

To describe the change brought by faith: believers were darkness, they are now light in the Lord. This image grounds a call to walk as children of light, refusing the works of darkness.

Articles quoting Ephesians 5

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World English Bible translation — public domain.