1 T herefore be 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 love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

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 B ut fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for 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 filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, 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 you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and 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 empty 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 T herefore do not be partakers with them. Walk in Light

Have nothing to do with them.

8 F or you were once darkness, but now you 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, righteousness, and truth),

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

10 f inding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Learn how to please the Lord.

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

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

12 F or it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

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

13 B ut all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

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

14 T herefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Walk in Wisdom

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 you 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 do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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

18 A nd do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; 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 to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

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 to God the 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 s ubmitting to one another in the fear of God. Marriage—Christ and the Church

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

22 W ives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

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

23 F or the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of 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, just as the church is subject to 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, just as Christ also loved the church 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 with 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 to Himself a glorious church, 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 husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who 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, just as the Lord does the church.

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 “ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become 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 church.

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

33 N evertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

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