1 ¶ Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children

Do as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do.

2 a nd walk in charity even as the Christ also has loved us and has given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

Live with love as Christ loved you. He gave Himself for us, a gift on the altar to God which was as a sweet smell to God.

3 ¶ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becomes saints,

Do not let sex sins or anything sinful be even talked about among those who belong to Christ. Do not always want everything.

4 n either dishonest words nor foolishness nor low jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.

Do not be guilty of telling bad stories and of foolish talk. These things are not for you to do. Instead, you are to give thanks for what God has done for you.

5 F or this ye know, that no fornicator nor unclean person nor covetous man, who is also an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Be sure of this! No person who does sex sins or who is not pure will have any part in the holy nation of Christ and of God. The same is true for the person who always wants what other people have. This becomes a god to him.

6 L et no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Do not let anyone lead you in the wrong way with foolish talk. The anger of God comes on such people because they choose to not obey Him.

7 B e not ye, therefore, partakers with them.

Have nothing to do with them.

8 F or in another time ye were darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

At one time you lived in darkness. Now you are living in the light that comes from the Lord. Live as children who have the light of the Lord in them.

9 ( For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

This light gives us truth. It makes us right with God and makes us good.

10 a pproving what is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Learn how to please the Lord.

11 A nd have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Have nothing to do with the bad things done in darkness. Instead, show that these things are wrong.

12 F or it is a shame even to speak of those things which they do in secret.

It is a shame even to talk about these things done in secret.

13 B ut all these things when they are reproved by the light are made manifest, for the light is that which manifests everything.

All things can be seen when they are in the light. Everything that can be seen is in the light.

14 T herefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.

The Holy Writings say, “Wake up, you who are sleeping. Rise from the dead and Christ will give you light.” Be Filled With the Spirit of God

15 S ee then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.

16 r edeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days.

17 T herefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding of what the will of the Lord is.

Do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18 A nd be not drunk with wine, in which there is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,

Do not get drunk with wine. That leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

19 s peaking among yourselves with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and praising the Lord in your hearts,

Tell of your joy to each other by singing the Songs of David and church songs. Sing in your heart to the Lord.

20 g iving thanks always for all things unto the God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Always give thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How Wives Must Live

21 ¶ submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Be willing to help and care for each other because of Christ. By doing this, you honor Christ.

22 W ives, submit yourselves unto your own husband, as unto the Lord.

Wives, obey your own husbands. In doing this, you obey the Lord.

23 F or the husband is the head of the wife even as the Christ is head of the congregation, and it is he who gives saving health to the body.

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is His body (the church) that He saves.

24 T herefore, as the congregation is subject unto the Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

As the church is to obey Christ, wives are to obey their own husbands in everything. How Husbands Must Live

25 H usbands, love your wives even as the Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself for her,

Husbands, love your wives. You must love them as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for it.

26 t hat he might sanctify and cleanse her in the washing of water by the word,

Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word.

27 t hat he might present her glorious for himself, a congregation, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Christ did this so the church might stand before Him in shining-greatness. There is to be no sin of any kind in it. It is to be holy and without blame.

28 S o ought husbands to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.

So men should love their wives as they love their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 F or no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord with his congregation:

No man hates himself. He takes care of his own body. That is the way Christ does. He cares for His body which is the church.

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

We are all a part of His body, the church.

31 F or this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.

For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother when he gets married and be joined to his wife. The two become one.

32 T his is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the congregation.

This is hard to understand, but it shows that the church is the body of Christ.

33 N evertheless, let each one of you do likewise, let each one so love his wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she reverences her husband.

So every man must love his wife as he loves himself. Every wife must respect her husband.