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Ephesians Chapter 5

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 33 Verses

What is Ephesians 5 about?

The riches of God's grace and the mystery of the church as Christ's body, culminating in the armor of God. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
2and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.
5For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
8For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
9(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;
11and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;
12for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
13But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
14Wherefore [he] saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
15Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
19speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22Wives, [be in subjection] unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body.
24But as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, 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 church to himself a glorious [church], not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:
29for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
30because we are members of his body.
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
32This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
33Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and [let] the wife [see] that she fear her husband.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Be ye therefore followers of God, &c.] Not in his works of infinite wisdom and almighty power, which is impossible; but in acts of righteousness and holiness, and particularly in acts of mercy, goodness, and beneficence; as in forgiving injuries and offences, and in freely distributing to the necessities of the saints; as the connection of the words with the preceding chapter, and the instance and example in the following verse show: and this should be done by the saints, as dear children; and because they are such by adopting grace; being predestinated unto the adoption of children, in the eternal purpose of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“EXHORTATIONS TO LOVE: AND AGAINST CARNAL LUSTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. CIRCUMSPECTION IN WALK: REDEEMING THE TIME: BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT: SINGING TO THE LORD WITH THANKFULNESS: THE WIFE'S DUTY TO THE HUSBAND RESTS ON THAT OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. (Eph. 5:1-33) therefore--seeing that "God in Christ forgave you" (Eph 4:32). followers--Greek, "imitators" of God, in respect to "love" (Eph 5:2): God's essential character (Jo1 4:16). as dear children--Greek, "as children beloved"; to which Eph 5:2 refers, "As Christ also loved us" (Jo1 4:19). "We are sons of men, when we do ill; sons of God, when we do well"…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Be ye therefore followers of God - Greek, “Be imitators - μιμηταὶ mimētai - of God.” The idea is not that they were to be the friends of God, or numbered among his followers, but that they were to imitate him in the particular thing under consideration. The word “therefore” - οὖν oun - connects this with the previous chapter, where he had been exhorting them to kindness, and to a spirit of forgiveness, and he here entreats them to imitate God, who was always kind and ready to forgive; compare Matthew 5:44-47; As he forgives us Ephesians 4:32, we should be ready to forgive others; as he has borne with our…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Be ye therefore followers - Imitators. Of God - In forgiving and loving. O how much more honourable and more happy, to be an imitator of God, than of Homer, Virgil, or Alexander the Great! Ephesians 5:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“5:1 Imitate God . . . in everything you do: Primarily by expressing love (5:2; cp. Matt 5:44-45, 48). • because you are his dear children: Just as children follow their parents’ example, believers should follow God’s example (1 Cor 4:14-17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“followers: Eph 4:32; Lev 11:45; Mat 5:45, Mat 5:48; Luk 6:35, Luk 6:36; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16; Jo1 4:11 as: Jer 31:20; Hos 1:10; Joh 1:12; Col 3:12; Jo1 3:1, Jo1 3:2 Ephesians 5:2”
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Sources and verification