Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in
love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not
even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no
filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of
place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure
of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is
covetous (that is, an idolater), has no 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 upon the sons of
disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at
one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk
as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that
is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to
the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but
instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things
that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light,
it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord
with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one
another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the
husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the
church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to
their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her
by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the
church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way
husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves
his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but
nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because
we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father
and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one
flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to
Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife
as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
