Thematic Bible
Ephesians 5:1 (show verse)
So, as dearly loved children, you people should [try to] be like God.
Ephesians 5:2 (show verse)
Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:3 (show verse)
But you should not even talk about sexual immorality, or any type of [moral] impurity, or greed. [Note: Possibly "greed" here means "desire for more" of such things]. Such talk is not suitable for saints [i.e., God's holy people].
Ephesians 5:4 (show verse)
Nor should obscenity, silly chatter or double-meaning jokes be used, because they are not proper either. But instead, [you should express] thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:5 (show verse)
For you [should] know this for certain: No sexually immoral or [morally] impure person, or greedy person, who is [the same as] an idol worshiper, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 5:6 (show verse)
Do not let anyone deceive you with empty words, for because of such things, the wrath of God will fall upon people who are disobedient [to Him].
Ephesians 5:7 (show verse)
So, do not participate with such individuals,
Ephesians 5:8 (show verse)
for you people were once darkness [i.e., when living in sin], but now you are light in [fellowship with] the Lord. [So], live like people who belong to light [i.e., who live godly lives],
Ephesians 5:9 (show verse)
(for the product of light consists of everything good and right and true).
Ephesians 5:10 (show verse)
Then you will demonstrate [or, "learn about"] a life that is very pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:11 (show verse)
Do not have fellowship with [people who practice] worthless deeds of darkness [i.e., sinful living], but expose them instead.
Ephesians 5:12 (show verse)
For it is shameful even to talk about the things they do in private.
Ephesians 5:13 (show verse)
But when all [such] things are exposed by the light [i.e., the truth], they become [clearly] visible [i.e., their true nature is revealed], for everything so revealed becomes illuminated. [Note: Possibly this means "it is light that clearly reveals everything"].
Ephesians 5:14 (show verse)
So, it says, "You who are asleep, wake up and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you [i.e., illuminate you]." [Note: The foregoing words may have been an early saying, used at someone's immersion, which included the ideas of "rising up" (See Col. 2:12) and "illumination" (See Heb. 6:4)].
Ephesians 5:15 (show verse)
So, be careful how you live. Do not live ignorantly, but wisely,
Ephesians 5:16 (show verse)
making the most of every opportunity, because these days are evil.
Ephesians 5:17 (show verse)
Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians 5:18 (show verse)
And do not get drunk on wine, which results in ruined lives, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:19 (show verse)
Speak to one another by using psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:20 (show verse)
Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name [i.e., by the authority] of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:21 (show verse)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:22 (show verse)
Wives, you should submit to your own husbands, as you would to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:23 (show verse)
For the husband is the [spiritual] head over his wife, just as Christ is also the [spiritual] head over the church, since He is the Savior of the body.
Ephesians 5:24 (show verse)
But just as the church submits to Christ, so wives also should submit to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians 5:25 (show verse)
Husbands, you should love your wives just as Christ also loved the church, and gave up His life for her,
Ephesians 5:26 (show verse)
so that He could dedicate her [to Himself], after cleansing her by means of the washing of water [i.e., immersion], accompanied by the word. [Note: "The word" here refers either to a person's profession of faith (See Rom. 10:9) or to the Gospel message (See Rom. 10:17), both of which are associated with immersion].
Ephesians 5:27 (show verse)
[This is] so He could present the church to Himself in all her splendor, without any kind of stain or wrinkle, but that she should be holy and without [moral] flaw.
Ephesians 5:28 (show verse)
In the same way also, husbands should love their own wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his own wife [actually] loves himself.
Ephesians 5:29 (show verse)
For no [normal] person ever hated his own [physical] body, but [instead] he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ also does for the church,
Ephesians 5:30 (show verse)
because we are parts of His [spiritual] body.
Ephesians 5:31 (show verse)
[Gen. 2:24 says], "For this reason a man will leave [the home of] his father and mother, and will cling to his wife, [so that] the two will become one flesh [i.e., united in such a close relationship, as to practically constitute one body]."
Ephesians 5:32 (show verse)
The secret [truth] of this is great, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:33 (show verse)
However, each of you men individually should also love his own wife the way he loves himself. And the wife should respect her husband.