Marriage—Christ and the Church(A)

22 Wives, (B)submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For (C)the husband is head of the wife, as also (D)Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands (E)in everything.

25 (F)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (G)gave Himself for her, 26 that He might [a]sanctify and cleanse her (H)with the washing of water (I)by the word, 27 (J)that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, (K)not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For (L)we are members of His body, [b]of His flesh and of His bones. 31 (M)“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the (N)two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless (O)let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she (P)respects her husband.

Children and Parents(Q)

Children, (R)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (S)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

And (T)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but (U)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Bondservants and Masters

(V)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, (W)with fear and trembling, (X)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; (Y)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, (Z)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that [c]your own (AA)Master also is in heaven, and (AB)there is no partiality with Him.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 set it apart
  2. Ephesians 5:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
  3. Ephesians 6:9 NU He who is both their Master and yours is

The Christian Home(A)

18 (B)Wives, submit to your own husbands, (C)as is fitting in the Lord.

19 (D)Husbands, love your wives and do not be (E)bitter toward them.

20 (F)Children, obey your parents (G)in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 (H)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 (I)Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 (J)And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 (K)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; (L)for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and (M)there is no partiality.

Christian Graces; Final Greetings

Masters,(N) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:24 NU omits for

Submission to Husbands

Wives, likewise, be (A)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, (B)they, without a word, may (C)be won by the conduct of their wives, (D)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. (E)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be (F)the hidden person of the heart, with the [a]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:4 imperishable

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