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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 Ephesians 5:32 and Gospel of Philip 7:17

New Testament · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Gospel of Philip appears to expand Ephesians' description of marriage as a great mystery by stressing its role in producing life. The shared marriage image connects Jesus and the church with a union through which human life and the world continue.

Passages

Ephesians 5:32

New Testament
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.
90–100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ephesians

Gospel of Philip 7:17

Nag Hammadi
[The] symbolic image of marriage [is] great, because [apart from] it the world would [not] have [come into existence], because [the c]ontinuance of th[e wor]ld [are] [hu]mans. However, the arrangement [... the] marriage. Contemplate [sexual union ...] defiled because it possesses [...] power. Its image dwells with [defilement]. [The forms] of unclean spirits include males and females. The males are those that unite with the souls that are of female form, and the females are those who mingle with those of male form. This results from the need to mingle. Further, no one can avoid their embraces if he does not obtain a male power as well as a female one, this being the bridegroom and the bride, and one obtains (this) from the symbolical bridal chamber.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... To further complicate the matter, the Gospel of Philip describes marriage and the bridal chamber four times as a “mystery” (64.31–65.1; 67.27–30; 71.3–15; 85.22–86.19).15 These statements seem to be a reflec­ tion on Ephesians 5:31–32: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery.” But the statements also reflect the marriage language that was associated with the Dionysiac, Eleusinian, Isiac, and Mithraic mysteries. This all suggests that only those who were initiated into the mysteries could fully understand references to marriage and the bridal chamber. ...”
Gaye Strathearn, “The Valentinian Bridal Chamber in the Gospel of Philip,” Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 1.1 (2009): 90.

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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