Tree of Life Version
Ephesians 5:1
1Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children;
Ephesians 5:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
- New International Version (NIV)Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Context of Ephesians 5:1
Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children; 2and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma. 3But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed—don’t even let these be mentioned among you, as is proper for kedoshim.
Read all of Ephesians 5Ephesians 5:1 word by word
Γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητὰRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ephesians 5:1
- Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other just as God in Messiah also forgave you.
- Leviticus 11:45For I am Adonai who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. Therefore, you should be holy, for I am holy.
- Matthew 5:45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
- Luke 6:35“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of Elyon, for He is kind to the ungrateful and evil ones.
- 1 Peter 1:15Instead, just like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in everything you do.
- 1 John 4:11Loved ones, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
- Jeremiah 31:20Erect road markers, set up signposts! Set your heart toward the highway, the way by which you traveled! Return, O virgin Israel, return to your cities.
- John 1:12But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God.
- Colossians 3:12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—
- 1 John 3:1See how glorious a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children—and so we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Commentaries on Ephesians 5:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Be ye therefore followers of God - The beginning of this chapter is properly a continuation of the preceding, which should have ended with the second verse of this. The word , which we translate followers, signifies such as personate others, assuming their gait, mode of speech, accent, carriage, etc.; and it is from this Greek word that we have the word mimic. Though this term is often used in a ludicrous sense, yet here it is to be understood in a very…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Be ye therefore followers of God - Greek, “Be imitators - ̀ mimētai- of God.” The idea is not that they were to be the friends of God, or numbered among his followers, but that they were to imitate him in the particular thing under consideration. The word “therefore” - ̓͂ oun- connects this with the previous chapter, where he had been exhorting them to kindness, and to a spirit of forgiveness, and he here entreats them to imitate God, who was always kind…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline Exhortation to brotherly love. (1-2) Cautions against several sins. (3-14) Directions to a contrary behaviour, and to relative duties. (15-21) The duties of wives and husbands are enforced by the spiritual relation between Christ and the church. (22-33) Verses 1-2 Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Be imitators of God: We imitate God mainly by showing love (5:2; see Matthew 5:44–45, 48). as beloved children: Just as children follow their parents' example, believers should follow God's example (1 Corinthians 4:14–17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. therefore--seeing that "God in Christ forgave you" (Ep 4:32). followers--Greek, "imitators" of God, in respect to "love" (Ep 5:2): God's essential character (1Jo 4:16). as dear children--Greek, "as children beloved"; to which Ep 5:2 refers, "As Christ also loved us" (1Jo 4:19). "We are sons of men, when we do ill; sons of God, when we do well" [Augustine, on Psalm 52]; (compare Mt 5:44, 45, 48). Sonship infers an absolute necessity of imitation, it…Read the comment
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In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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