Purity
1 So imitate God as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for our sake as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 As is fitting for holy people, let there be no grounds for charges of harlotry, dirtiness, or even greed to be brought against you— 4 and no filth or stupid talk or innuendo. Instead of being those things, be thankful. 5 For you know and understand that no promiscuous or dirty or greedy people (who are idolaters) will have a share in the inheritance of the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one fool you with hollow words about all this, because the rage of God is coming upon those who stubbornly resist him. 7 No, do not join in with them! 8 For you were once darkness but now, unified with the Master, you are light. 9 So act like people of the light, since light produces all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 testing to see what is most pleasing to the Master. 11 And do not join in with the unproductive acts of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 It’s shameful to even talk about what they do. 13 But everything is being exposed under the light appearing everywhere, for light is indeed appearing. 14 This is why it says, “Wake up, sleeper! Get up, and Christ will illuminate you.” 15 So make sure that you are keeping pace— not with the unwise but with the wise, 16 making good use of the time in these evil days. 17 For that reason, do not become dimwitted but intelligent regarding the will of the Master.
Spirit, not flesh
18 Don’t get drunk with wine, which shows a lack of discipline, but be filled in spirit. 18 19 Speak to each other with praise songs, festive songs, and spiritual songs, singing and playing music in your hearts to the Master. 20 Live in gratitude to God for everything in the name of our Master Jesus Christ.
Mutual support
21 Support each other out of respect for Christ. 22 Wives, support your own husbands just as the Congregation supports the Master. 23 Since the man is the source of the woman just as Christ is the source of the Congregation, which is the Body he saved, 23 24 the wives are to support their husbands in every way, just as the congregation supports Christ.
25 Husbands, love your wives in the same way that Christ did when he gave himself up for the Congregation, 26 to make her special and bathed clean by his pronouncement. 27 This way he could present the Congregation with himself as esteemed— not blemished, wrinkled, or any other such thing, but special and flawless. 28 Likewise, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. After all, a husband is really loving himself when he loves his wife, 29 since nobody ever hates their own body; they feed it and take care of it. That’s what Christ does for the Congregation, 30 a Body of which we are all parts. 31 In this same way, a man leaves his parents to join completely with his wife, and they become one flesh. 32 This is a big secret, but I’m talking about Christ and the Congregation. 33 To emphasize: Every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, so that the wife won’t have to live in fear of her husband.
- 18 The Greek grammar indicates that everything from here to ch. 6 verse 10 refers back to being “filled in spirit”.
- 23 Paul is using a play on words which is difficult to convey in English: The body holds up (supports) the head, and the head (source) in turn feeds and nourishes the body. This is a picture of unity and interdependence, not hierarchy.