Imitators of God
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Children of Light
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1-3; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Imitators of God
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. 5 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.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.
Children of Light
8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.
14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 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)
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Imitators of God
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us a and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Children of Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, b for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14 So it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. c
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. 30 For we are members of His body. d
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” e 32 This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Footnotes:
2 a NE and WH Christ loved you
13 b SBL begins verse 14 after visible,
21 c Or in the fear of Christ.
30 d BYZ and TR include —of His flesh and of His bones .
31 e Genesis 2:24 (see also LXX)
Imitators of God
1Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved, 2and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,
3and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving; 5for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.
6Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience, 7become not, then, partakers with them,
Children of Light
8for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye, 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, 10proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord, 11and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict, 12for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of, 13and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;
14wherefore he saith, 'Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'
15See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil; 17because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what is the will of the Lord, 18and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit, 19speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father; 21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1-3; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
22The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord, 23because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body, 24but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also are the wives to their own husbands in everything.
25The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it, 26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the bathing of the water in the saying, 27that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished; 28so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love; 29for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly, 30because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones; 31'for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;' 32this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly; 33but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.
The Favor of God paraphrase
Walk in Love and Light
¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore, do not be partners with them.
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them! ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Living Wisely
¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Households
²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—³⁰ for we are members of His body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Footnotes:
1.“Fragrant offering” (verse 2) refers to the Old Testament sacrifices that were pleasing to God, symbolizing Jesus’ self-sacrifice as a perfect offering that brings salvation and reconciliation with God.
2.“Children of light” (verse 8) uses a metaphor common in the New Testament to describe believers who reflect the nature and character of God, who is often described as light. Living as children of light means demonstrating goodness, righteousness, and truth.
3.“Expose them” (verse 11) refers to bringing sinful actions into the open by living as light in the world. Paul encourages believers to live lives that shine God’s truth and goodness, revealing the emptiness of sin.
4.“Making the most of every opportunity” (verse 16) is translated from the Greek term exagorazomenoi, meaning to “redeem” or “buy back.” In this context, it means to make the best use of the time we have because of the moral challenges of the world.
5.“Submit to one another” (verse 21) introduces the section on Christian households and relationships, emphasizing mutual respect and submission, grounded in the love of Christ. Submission is not one-sided but reflects a cooperative spirit among believers.
6.“Husbands, love your wives” (verse 25) contrasts the cultural expectations of the time, where women were often treated as property. Paul calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially, mirroring the love Christ has for the church, which elevates the dignity and value of the wife.
7.“One flesh” (verse 31) comes from Genesis 2:24, referring to the intimate and enduring bond between husband and wife. Paul uses this to describe the deep spiritual connection between Christ and His church.
