He exhorts them to love. He warns them to beware of uncleanness, covetousness, foolish talking, and false counsel; to be circumspect, to avoid drunkenness, to rejoice and to be thankful to God, and to submit themselves one to another. He teaches how women should obey their husbands, and how lovingly men ought to treat their wives.
5 Be followers of God as dear children, 2 and walk in love, even as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God.
3 As for fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let them not be once named among you, as it becomes saints. 4 Nor should there be coarseness, or foolish talking, or jestings which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no whoremonger or unclean person, or covetous person (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no person deceive you with vain words. For through such things comes the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief. 7 Therefore do not be companions with them. 8 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, righteousness, and truth. 10 Accept that which is pleasing to the Lord, 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather rebuke them. 12 For it is shameful even to name those things that are done by them in secret. 13 But all things, when they are rebuked by the light, are manifest. For whatsoever is manifest, that same is light. 14 Therefore he says, Awake, you who sleep, and stand up from death, and Christ will give you light.
15 Take heed therefore that you walk circumspectly – not as fools, but as wise, 16 redeeming the time. For the days are evil. 17 Therefore be not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be fulfilled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
22 Women, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore, as the congregation is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be subject to their husbands in all things.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation and gave himself for it, 26 to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word, 27 to make it for himself a glorious congregation, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but to be holy and without blame. 28 This is how men ought to love their wives: as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but cares for and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the congregation. 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. 31 On this account must a man leave father and mother and continue with his wife, and the two will be made one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak as between Christ and the congregation. 33 Nevertheless, see to it that every one of you loves his wife truly, even as himself. And let the wife see that she fears her husband.