1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [5:2] And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into an aroma of a sweet smell. [5:3] Sexual immorality, however, and all impurity or covetousness — let it not even be named among you, as is proper to saints — [5:4] and filthiness and foolish talking or crude joking, which were not fit — but rather thanksgiving. [5:5] For this you know, realizing that any fornicator or unclean person or covetous man — who is an idolater — has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [5:6] No one should deceive you with empty words; for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. [5:7] Therefore do not be partakers with them.
EPH 5:1-7
Imitators of God
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, ethical discourse often centered on imitation of divine or virtuous models. For the Ephesians, a cosmopolitan audience familiar with Roman civic and religious practices, the call to 'be imitators of God' would resonate with Stoic ideals of living in harmony with divine reason. However, the grounding in Christ’s sacrificial love reframes this imitation in distinctly Christian terms, contrasting with pagan sacrificial rituals that sought to appease deities. The prohibition of (sexual immorality) and (greed) addresses behaviors deeply embedded in Roman society, where sexual exploitation and economic exploitation were normalized. The warning against (crude joking) critiques the kind of witty, often degrading banter common in Greco-Roman social gatherings. The emphasis on thanksgiving aligns with Jewish and early Christian practices of gratitude as a counter to pagan excess. The exclusion of the immoral from the kingdom reflects Jewish apocalyptic thought, where purity and inheritance were closely linked.
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How other translations render this
EPH 5:1
- KJV
- Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
- BSB
- Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
- Koinōnos
- Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
EPH 5:2
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Koinōnos
- And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into an aroma of a sweet smell.
EPH 5:3
- KJV
- But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
- BSB
- But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
- Koinōnos
- Sexual immorality, however, and all impurity or covetousness — let it not even be named among you, as is proper to saints —
EPH 5:4
- KJV
- Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
- BSB
- Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
- Koinōnos
- and filthiness and foolish talking or crude joking, which were not fit — but rather thanksgiving.
EPH 5:5
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
- Koinōnos
- For this you know, realizing that any fornicator or unclean person or covetous man — who is an idolater — has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
EPH 5:6
- KJV
- Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
- BSB
- Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Koinōnos
- No one should deceive you with empty words; for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
EPH 5:7
- KJV
- Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
- BSB
- Therefore do not be partakers with them.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
EPH 5:3
- Sexual immorality:The word translated 'sexual immorality' was a broad term in the first century, encompassing all forms of illicit sexual activity, not just prostitution or fornication.
- covetousness:The term translated 'covetousness' carried the strong sense of an insatiable desire for more, often at the expense of others, rather than just a general longing.
EPH 5:4
- crude joking:The word translated 'crude joking' originally referred to witty and clever conversation, but by the first century, it had developed a negative connotation of vulgar, coarse, or inappropriate humor.
EPH 5:6
- wrath:The word translated 'wrath' often referred to a deep-seated, passionate anger that could be slow to ignite but was intense and enduring, rather than a fleeting outburst.