1Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2Let love be your guide. Christ loved us5.2 us: Some manuscripts have “you”. and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.5.2: Ex 29.18; Ps 40.6.

3You are God's people, so don't let it be said that any of you are immoral or indecent or greedy. 4Don't use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are. 5Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshipping idols. You can be sure that people who behave in this way will never be part of the kingdom that belongs to Christ and to God.

Living as people of light

6Don't let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says5.6 says: Or “does”. foolish things. 7So don't have anything to do with anyone like that.

8You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful, 10as you try to please the Lord. 11Don't take part in doing those worthless things that are done in the dark. Instead, show how wrong they are. 12It is disgusting even to talk about what is done in the dark. 13But the light will show what these things are really like. 14Light shows up everything,5.14 Light shows up everything: Or “Everything that is seen in the light becomes light itself.” just as the Scriptures say,

“Wake up from your sleep

and rise from death.

Then Christ will shine on you.”

15Act like people with good sense and not like fools. 16These are evil times, so make every minute count.5.16: Col 4.5. 17Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. 18Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. 19When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.5.19,20: Col 3.16,17. 20Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.

Wives and husbands

21Honour Christ and put others first. 22A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord.5.22: Col 3.18; 1 P 3.1. 23A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Saviour of the church, which is his own body. 24Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.

25A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.5.25: Col 3.19; 1 P 3.7. 26He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.

28In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows that he loves himself. 29None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, 30because we are each part of his body. 31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.”5.31: Gn 2.24. 32This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. 33So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.