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1Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters.[#5:1 The Greek word mimetes frequently depicts an actor playing a role. God wants us to mimic him and be filled with his thoughts, his love, his deeds, and his character.]
2And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance.[#5:2 The Aramaic word for “fragrance” can also be translated “healing balm.”]
3And have nothing to do with sexual immorality, lust, or greed—for you are his holy ones and let no one be able to accuse you of them in any form .
4Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary. Instead, let worship fill your heart and spill out in your words.
5For it has been made clear to you already that the kingdom of God cannot be accessed by anyone who is guilty of sexual sin, or who is impure or greedy—for greed is the essence of idolatry. How could they expect to have an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom while doing those things ?
6Don’t be fooled by those who speak their empty words and deceptive teachings telling you otherwise. This is what brings God’s anger upon the rebellious!
7Don’t listen to them or live like them at all.
8Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light!
9And the supernatural fruits of his light will be seen in you—goodness, righteousness, and truth.[#5:9 Some Greek manuscripts have “Spirit.”]
10Then you will learn to choose what is beautiful to our Lord.
11And don’t even associate with the servants of darkness because they have no fruit in them; instead, reveal truth to them.
12The very things they do in secret are too vile and filthy to even mention.
13Whatever the revelation-light exposes, it will also correct, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul.[#5:13 Or “everything revealed becomes light.”]
14This is why the Scripture says,
15-16So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes.
17And don’t live foolishly for then you will have discernment to fully understand God’s will.
18And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.[#5:18 The Aramaic can be translated “the wine of the prodigal.” The Greek is “reckless living” or “debauchery.”; #5:18 Or “be inebriated in the Spirit’s fullness.”]
19And your hearts will overflow with a joyful song to the Lord. Keep speaking to each other with words of Scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit![#5:19 Or “spiritual songs.” There is no other song more spiritual than the Song of Songs. Perhaps Paul was encouraging the church to sing and rejoice in the greatest of all songs.]
20Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[#5:20 The Greek text is ambiguous; it can mean “give thanks for all things” or “for all people.” The Aramaic is quite specific—“for all people.”]
21And out of your reverence for Christ be supportive of each other in love.
22For wives, this means being devoted to your husbands like you are tenderly devoted to our Lord,[#5:22 The Greek word for “submit,” or “supportive,” is not found in v. 22. It is literally “Wives, with your husbands.”]
23for the husband provides leadership for the wife, just as Christ provides leadership for his church, as the Savior and Reviver of the body.[#5:23 The Aramaic word used here can be translated “Savior” or “Reviver.” This translation includes both concepts.]
24In the same way the church is devoted to Christ, let the wives be devoted to their husbands in everything.
25And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, his bride. For he died for us, sacrificing himself[#5:25 Or “church.”]
26to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God.
27All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.[#5:27 The Greek word for “radiance” ( endoxos ) can also mean “gorgeous,” “honorable,” “esteemed,” “splendid,” “infused with glory.” This is what Christ’s love will do to you. (See Strong’s Concordance , Gr. 1741.); #5:27 The Greek text has “without any wrinkle.” The Aramaic can be translated “without chips or knots.”]
28Husbands have the obligation of loving and caring for their wives the same way they love and care for their own bodies, for to love your wife is to love your own self.
29No one abuses his own body, but pampers it—serving and satisfying its needs. That’s exactly what Christ does for his church!
30He serves and satisfies us as members of his body.[#5:30 Inferred from v. 29 and made explicit here.]
31For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and lovingly hold to his wife, since the two have become joined as one flesh.[#5:31 See Gen. 2:24.]
32Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great mystery of Christ and his church.[#5:32 As translated from the Aramaic.; #5:32 Or “megamystery.” No book of the Bible unveils more of this great megamystery than does the Song of Songs.]
33So every married man should be gracious to his wife just as he is gracious to himself. And every wife should be tenderly devoted to her husband.