Imitators of God

1Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved, 2and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,

3and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving; 5for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.

6Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience, 7become not, then, partakers with them,

Children of Light

8for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye, 9for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, 10proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord, 11and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict, 12for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of, 13and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;

14wherefore he saith, 'Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'

15See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil; 17because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what is the will of the Lord, 18and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit, 19speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father; 21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

Wives and Husbands

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

22The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord, 23because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body, 24but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also are the wives to their own husbands in everything.

25The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it, 26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the bathing of the water in the saying, 27that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished; 28so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love; 29for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly, 30because members we are 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 to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;' 32this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly; 33but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.