Ephesians 5

(1)  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
(2)  And 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.
(3)  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
(4)  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
(5)  For 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.
(6)  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(7)  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
(8)  For 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;)
(10)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
(11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
(12)  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
(13)  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
(14)  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
(15)  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(17)  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(18)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19)  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20)  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
(21)  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
(22)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
(23)  For 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.
(24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
(25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
(27)  That 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.
(28)  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
(29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
(30)  For we are members 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 unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
(32)  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
(33)  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

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Study Questions

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1. In what way are we to be followers or imitators of God? As in what two things did Christ give himself for us? Verses 1-2.

2. What six things are forbidden for Christians? Verses 3-4.

3. What do fornicators, unclean persons, and covetous men absolutely not have? Why is the covetous man called an idolater? What comes upon those who are children of disobedience? Verses 5-7.

4. What were we before conversion? In what is the fruit or moral result of the Spirit? What do children of light prove? Verses 8-10.

5. Rather than having fellowship or participation in works of darkness, what are we to do? Where are works of darkness done? Verses 11-12.

6. How are we able to know the secret wicked practices that are reproved? What two things do those in darkness have a responsibility to do? Verses 13-14.

7. What are both the negative and the positive aspects of our walking as wise men? Why are we to seize every opportunity for doing good? Verses 15-16.

8. What is the opposite of being unwise? Can we understand what God’s will for us is? Verse 17.

9. What is the cause and effect of utter recklessness or riot? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Verse 18.

10. What is the command in this verse? Can an instrument speak? Where is the melody to be made? Verse 19.

11. Is our congregational singing one way to give praise and thanks to God? What is the only way our thanks can be done acceptably? Verse 20.

12. What is the general principle concerning relationships defined in the following verses? Verse 21.

13. A woman’s subjection to her husband is like her subjection to whom? Verse 22.

14. What relationship does the husband bear to the wife that Christ also bears to the church? What other relationship does Christ have to the body? Verse 23.

15. In what is the wife to be subject to her husband? Verse 24.

16. Whose example is a husband to imitate in his love for his wife? Is the husband expected to give himself up for his wife? Verse 25.

17. By what is the church sanctified? What is the instrument of regeneration? Verse 26.

18. What kind of a church does Christ desire to be presented to himself? What is the difference between spots and wrinkles? Verse 27.

19. If a man wishes to promote his own happiness what should he do? Verse 28.

20. What two things does a man do for himself that he should do for his wife? Verse 29.

21. Why does Christ nourish and cherish the church? Verse 30.

22. Who first made this statement? What does “cleave” mean in Genesis 2:24? Verse 31.

23. What is the application of Genesis 2:24 to Christ and the church called? Verse 32.

24. The Revised Version reads: “And let the wife see that she fear her husband.” What degree or type of fear is a wife to have toward her husband? Verse 33.