Imitators of God

1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

3But fornication and all uncleanness or unbridled lust, let it not be even named among you, as it becomes saints; 4and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving. 5For this ye are [well] informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

6Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore fellow-partakers with them;

Children of Light

8for ye were once darkness, but 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 agreeable to the Lord; 11and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove [them], 12for the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful even to say. 13But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light.

14Wherefore he says, Wake up, [thou] that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.

15See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what [is] the will of the Lord. 18And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord; 20giving thanks at all times for all things to him [who is] God and [the] Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting yourselves to one another in [the] fear of Christ.

Wives and Husbands

(Song of Solomon 1:1-3; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

22Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to the Lord, 23for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly. He [is] Saviour of the body. 24But even as the assembly is subjected to the Christ, so also wives to their own husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it, 26in order that he might sanctify it, purifying [it] by the washing of water by [the] word, 27that he might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless. 28So ought men also to love their own wives as their own bodies: he that loves his own wife loves himself. 29For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly: 30for we are members of his body; [we are of his flesh, and of his bones.] 31Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. 32This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly. 33But ye also, every one of you, let each so love his own wife as himself; but as to the wife [I speak] that she may fear the husband.