The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God.

And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness.

But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints,

nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks.

For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief.

Therefore, do not choose to become participants with them.

Children of Light

For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light.

For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth,

affirming what is well-pleasing to God.

And so, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, refute them.

For the things that are done by them in secret are shameful, even to mention.

But all things that are disputed are made manifest by the light. For all that is made manifest is light.

Because of this, it is said: “You who are sleeping: awaken, and rise up from the dead, and so shall the Christ enlighten you.”

And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish,

but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time.

For this reason, do not choose to be imprudent. Instead, understand what is the will of God.

And do not choose to be inebriated by wine, for this is self-indulgence. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

speaking among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and reciting psalms to the Lord in your hearts,

giving thanks always for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body.

Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things.(a)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,

so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life,

so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate.

So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church.

For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.

“For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.”

This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church.

Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband.

Footnotes

(a)5:24 As the church is subject to Christ:The church then, according to St. Paul, is ever obedient to Christ, and can never fall from him, but remain faithful to him, unspotted and unchanged to the end of the world.(Challoner)

Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Therefore don’t be partakers with them.

Children of Light

For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,

proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.

Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”(a)

This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Footnotes

(a)5:31 ℘ Genesis 2:24