Bible / Ephesians
Ephesians 5
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. CCC
2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. CCC
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; CCC
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. CCC
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. CCC
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Fathers
7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them. Fathers
8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, CCC
9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, CCC
10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.
11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.
14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” CCC
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. CCC
17 Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. CCC
18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; CCC
20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; CCC
21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. CCC
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, CCC
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, CCC
27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. CCC
28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, CCC
30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. Fathers
31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” CCC
32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. CCC
33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children: CCC
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. CCC
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: CCC
4 Or obscenity or foolish talking or scurrility, which is to no purpose: but rather giving of thanks. CCC
5 For know you this and understand: That no fornicator or unclean or covetous person (which is a serving of idols) hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. CCC
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. Fathers
7 Be ye not therefore partakers with them. Fathers
8 For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. CCC
9 For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth: CCC
10 Proving what is well pleasing to God.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather reprove them.
12 For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for all that is made manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith: Rise, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee. CCC
15 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise,
16 But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil. CCC
17 Wherefore, become not unwise: but understanding what is the will of God. CCC
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit,
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord: CCC
20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father: CCC
21 Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ. CCC
22 Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:
23 Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ: so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and delivered himself up for it: CCC
26 That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: CCC
27 That he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. CCC
28 So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church: CCC
30 Because we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. Fathers
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother: and shall cleave to his wife. And they shall be two in one flesh. CCC
32 This is a great sacrament: but I speak in Christ and in the church. CCC
33 Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: And let the wife fear her husband.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1694 “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" and so participate in the…”
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- CCC 1852 “There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. the Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works…”
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- CCC 1852 “There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. the Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works…”
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Read the Fathers
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1695 “Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God," "sanctified . . . (and) called…”
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- CCC 2641 “[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Like…”
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- CCC 672 “Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by…”
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- CCC 2826 “By prayer we can discern "what is the will of God" and obtain the endurance to do it. Jesus teaches us that…”
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- CCC 1269 “Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose…”
- CCC 1642 “Christ is the source of this grace. "Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity,…”
- CCC 2204 “The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called…”
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- CCC 616 “It is love "to the end" that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He…”
- CCC 757 “The Church, further, which is called 'that Jerusalem which is above' and 'our mother', is described as the spotless spouse of the…”
- CCC 772 “It is in the Church that Christ fulfills and reveals his own mystery as the purpose of God's plan: "to unite all…”
- CCC 796 “The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a…”
- CCC 1616 “This is what the Apostle Paul makes clear when he says: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 628 “Baptism, the original and full sign of which is immersion, efficaciously signifies the descent into the tomb by the Christian who dies…”
- CCC 757 “The Church, further, which is called 'that Jerusalem which is above' and 'our mother', is described as the spotless spouse of the…”
- CCC 772 “It is in the Church that Christ fulfills and reveals his own mystery as the purpose of God's plan: "to unite all…”
- CCC 796 “The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a…”
- CCC 829 “But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the…”
- CCC 1228 “Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect. St.…”
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- CCC 772 “It is in the Church that Christ fulfills and reveals his own mystery as the purpose of God's plan: "to unite all…”
- CCC 773 “In the Church this communion of men with God, in the "love [that] never ends," is the purpose which governs everything in…”
- CCC 829 “But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the…”
- CCC 1426 “Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received…”
- CCC 1617 “The entire Christian life bears the mark of the spousal love of Christ and the Church. Already Baptism, the entry into the…”
Read the Fathers
“… life eternal, which [flesh] is nourished from the body and blood of the Lord, and is a member of Him? – even as the blessed Paul declares in his Epistle to the Ephesians, that "we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter II. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 796 “The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a…”
- CCC 1602 “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision…”
- CCC 1616 “This is what the Apostle Paul makes clear when he says: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave…”
- CCC 1627 “The consent consists in a "human act by which the partners mutually give themselves to each other": "I take you to be…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 772 “It is in the Church that Christ fulfills and reveals his own mystery as the purpose of God's plan: "to unite all…”
- CCC 796 “The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a…”
- CCC 1602 “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision…”
- CCC 1616 “This is what the Apostle Paul makes clear when he says: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave…”
- CCC 1624 “The various liturgies abound in prayers of blessing and epiclesis asking God's grace and blessing on the new couple, especially the bride.…”