Ephesians Chapter 5

Welcome to the fifth of six studies of the Book of Ephesians.

Ephesians Chapter 5 teaches us how to walk in love, light, and wisdom while while watching around us to be wary. We also learn the christian principles of submission in different relationships.

Your learning comes from reading and studying the Bible. After you have read chapter five below, it's a good idea to answer the daily study questions. God Bless and enjoy your Bible study!

Facade from Hadrian's Temple in Ancient Ephesus

Ephesians Chapter 5 - from the King James Version

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 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.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 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. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith,

Awake thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Daily Study Questions

Click here to download these questions as a PDF file

Day One


1. Verse 1 of Ephesians Chapter 5 tells us to be imitators of God. How are we to imitate God? Who is our model?

2. How are we to live our lives according to Ephesians Chapter 5, verses 2, 8 and 15?

3. What are the six things Christians should not have in their lives according to verses 3 and 4 of Ephesians Chapter 5?

Day Two


1. What 2 reasons does Paul give for Christians to not have these six things in their lives?

2. Have you been in a group of people and someone begins to tell an off-color joke or story? What have you done or could you have done in these situations which are out of place for Christians?

3. What would be an example of a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or greed that we should not have in our lives according to verse three?

Day Three


1. How can we expose the fruitless deeds of darkness from Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 11? Read the following verses to gain an understanding: John 8:12; John 9:5; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 4:6; and 2 Timothy 1:10.

2. In the following verses of Ephesians Chapter 5 we are told to do certain things detailed below.

• Verse 1 - Be imitators of God
• Verse 7 - Therefore do not be partners with them
• Verse 15 - Be very careful, then, how you live
• Verse 17 - Therefore do not be foolish
• Verse 18 - Do not get drunk on wine

Each example also has a contrasting command(s).
List the contrasting verse(s) for each and the contrasting command(s).

3. Why is getting drunk a sin?

Day Four


1. What does it mean to submit ourselves to one another out of reverence for Christ (see Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 21)? Do the following verses from the Book of Romans provide us any ideas: Romans 12:10,16; 13:8; 14:13; and 15:7?

Do you think Jesus Christ provided us any examples from his life?

2. Who are the two audiences in verse 19 and how are they different, and how are they the same?

3. Please answer the question below if you are married.

A question for the ladies

What makes it easy for you to submit to your husband as provided in verse 22?

A question for the husbands

What makes it easy for you to love your wife as provided in verse 25?

Day Five


1. What is meant by the phrase “In this same way. . .” in verse 28? What is the way that is referenced?

2. Thinking back on what we’ve learned so far in this study, what do you think about the top three reasons for divorce today: Money, Sex and Alcohol?

3. The following verses from Ephesians Chapter 5 state how a husband must love his wife. What is an example of this type of love?

Verse 25 - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Verse 28 - In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Verse 33 - However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Day Six


What specific things about today’s culture are at odds with concepts of a wife submitting to her husband and a husband loving his wife as provided here in the Chapter 5 of the Book of Ephesians?

Compare Your Answers for Ephesians Chapter 5

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