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Ephesians

About this book
Chapter 5

1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2 and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting—all of which are out of character—but rather thanksgiving. 5 For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.⁠ 7 Therefore do not be sharers with them, 8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made visible. 14 For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”⁠ 15 Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity because the days are evil. 17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,⁠ 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,⁠ 23 because the husband is the head of the wife⁠ as also Christ is the head of the church (he himself being the savior of the body). 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.⁠ 28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great—but⁠ I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Enoch 92:3 and Ephesians 5:14

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · New Testament

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Summary

1 Enoch 92 describes the righteous rising from sleep to walk in eternal light. Ephesians 5 uses similar language in its call to wake up so that light may shine, with both following a common interpretive tradition of Isaiah.

Passages

1 Enoch 92:3

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
2 Do not let your spirit be troubled on account of the times; for the Holy and Great One has appointed days for all things. 3 And the righteous one shall arise from sleep, [Shall arise] and walk in the paths of righteousness, and all his ways and actions shall be in eternal goodness and grace. 4 He will be gracious to the righteous and grant him eternal uprightness, and He will empower him so that he shall be endowed with goodness and righteousness. And he shall walk in eternal light. 5 And sin shall perish in darkness forever, and shall no more be seen from that day forevermore.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

Ephesians 5:14

New Testament
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made visible. 14 For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” 15 Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity because the days are evil.
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ephesians

References

"... Many suggestions have been given regarding the possible source of this quotation. Whether or not we take Ephesians 5:14b as directly dependent on Isaiah 26:19 and 60:1-2, we cannot deny the similar usage of language. But more importantly the context of these verses in Isaiah, in the framework of God's plan of restoration of his people, becomes relevant for the understanding of Ephesians. Isaiah 26:19 and 60:1-2 speak in a context of moral and social chaos where Israel is perceived as living in darkness and being 'like dead men' (Isaiah 59:10, 1-15). God's intervention in history and in bringing (corporate) restoration to Israel is presented as a light shining (Isaiah 60.1). Through the shining of the glory of the Lord Israel is transformed and the nations will come to the light (Isaiah 60:3–62:12; compare 1 Enoch 92:3-5, 1QM 1:8-9). This pool of ideas is also seen here and confirms the function of Ephesians 5:13-14a. The time which was marked by a religious and spiritual lethargy (sleep) and alienation from God (death, compare Eph 2:1) is now marked by the transforming light of Christ and by the awakening of the community (the sons of light) which exposes the works of darkness and demonstrates the fruit of light that flows from Christ (compare Ephesians 2:1-10) ..."
Ester A. G. D. Petrenko, “Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works: The Integration of Soteriology and Ethics in Ephesians” (diss., Durham University, 2005), 172–173.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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1 Enoch 92:3 and Ephesians 5:14

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