Imitators Of God
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
2 and (B)walk in love, just as Christ also (C)loved (a)you and (D)gave Himself up for us, an (E)offering and a sacrifice to God (b)as a (F)fragrant aroma.
2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,(A) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
2 Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
3 But (G)immorality (c)or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among (d)saints;
3 But sexual immorality(B) and any impurity(C) or greed(D) should not even be heard of(a) among you, as is proper for saints.
3 Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints.
3 But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith].
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
4 and there must be no (H)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which (I)are not fitting, but rather (J)giving of thanks.
4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
4 Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving.
4 Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
5 For this you know with certainty, that (K)no (e)immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (L)of Christ and God.
5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral(E) or impure(F) or greedy(G) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom(H) of the Messiah and of God.
5 For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
5 For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God].
Light Versus Darkness
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
6 (M)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (N)the wrath of God comes upon (O)the sons of disobedience.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath(I) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.(b)
6 Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.
Walk Like Children Of Light
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
8 for (Q)you were formerly (R)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (S)children of Light
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light]
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
11 (W)Do not participate in the unfruitful (X)deeds of (Y)darkness, but instead even (g)(Z)expose them;
11 and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are.
11 Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret.
12 for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
14 For this reason (i)it says,“(AB)Awake, sleeper,And arise from (AC)the dead,And Christ (AD)will shine on you.”
14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:Get up, sleeper,(Q) and rise up from the dead,(R)and the Messiah will shine on you.(d)(S)
14 for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.''
Consistency In The Christian Life
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
15 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,
15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people],
Being Filled By The Spirit
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
18 And (AJ)do not get drunk with wine, (l)for that is (AK)dissipation, but be (AL)filled with the Spirit,
18 And don’t get drunk(W) with wine,(X) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:(Y)
18 Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
19 (AM)speaking to (m)one another in (AN)psalms and (AO)hymns and spiritual (AP)songs, (AQ)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
19 speaking to one anotherin psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,singing and making musicfrom your heart to the Lord,
19 Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
20 (AR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to (n)(AS)God, even the Father;
20 giving thanks always for everythingto God the Fatherin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
20 you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah;
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Wives And Husbands
Paul's Advice To Wives And Husbands
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
23 For (AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (AZ)head of the church, He Himself (BA)being the Savior of the body.
23 for the husband is the head of the wife(AD) as Christ is the head(AE) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.(AF)
23 For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body.
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.
24 Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah, so wives must be submissive to their husbands in everything.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].
Husbands And Wives
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
25 (BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (BC)gave Himself up for her,
25 Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it,
25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
26 (BD)so that He might sanctify her, having (BE)cleansed her by the (BF)washing of water with (BG)the word,
26 so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word,
26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
27 that He might (BH)present to Himself the church (q)in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (BI)holy and blameless.
27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.(AJ)
27 and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault.
27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
28 So husbands ought also to (BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
28 In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.
28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,
29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.
29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
31 (BM)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
31 For this reason a man will leavehis father and motherand be joined to his wife,(AK)and the two will become one flesh.(AL)(i)
31 "That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
32 This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah and the church.
32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to (BN)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (r)(BO)respects her husband.
33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
33 But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves himself; and may the wife fear her husband.
33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear].(F)