Ephesians 5:1
Ephesians 5:1 in Multiple Translations
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;
So then, imitate God since you're his much-loved children.
Bee yee therefore followers of God, as deare children,
Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,
Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children;
◄Imitate/Behave like► God, because he loves you who are as though you were [SIM] his children.
You are God’s kids, and he loves you, so try to be like God. He is good all the time.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ephesians 5:1
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Ephesians 5:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Ephesians 5:1
Study Notes — Ephesians 5:1
- Context
- Cross References
- Ephesians 5:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ephesians 5:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ephesians 5:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
- Cambridge Bible on Ephesians 5:1
- Barnes' Notes on Ephesians 5:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
- Sermons on Ephesians 5:1
Context — Imitators of God
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. 3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 John 4:11 | Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. |
| 2 | 1 Peter 1:15–16 | But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” |
| 3 | Ephesians 4:32 | Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. |
| 4 | Matthew 5:48 | Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. |
| 5 | Luke 6:35–36 | But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. |
| 6 | Colossians 3:12 | Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
| 7 | Leviticus 11:45 | For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. |
| 8 | 1 John 3:1–2 | Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. |
| 9 | John 1:12 | But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— |
| 10 | Matthew 5:45 | that you may be sons 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. |
Ephesians 5:1 Summary
This verse, Ephesians 5:1, is inviting us to be like God, to imitate Him, because we are His beloved children. This means we should try to live a life that shows God's love and kindness to others, just like Jesus did (as seen in John 13:35). As we strive to imitate God, we can remember that we are loved and cherished by Him, and that gives us the courage to keep trying to be like Him. By looking to verses like Matthew 5:48, we can see that being perfect like our heavenly Father is a high standard, but it's one we can strive for with God's help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an imitator of God?
To be an imitator of God means to follow His example and live a life that reflects His character, as seen in Ephesians 5:1 and supported by verses like Matthew 5:48, which encourages us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
How can we be sure we are beloved children of God?
We can be sure we are beloved children of God because the Bible tells us that God loves us and has adopted us as His children through faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in Ephesians 1:5 and Romans 8:15-16.
What is the significance of being called 'beloved children' in this verse?
Being called 'beloved children' emphasizes our special relationship with God as His dear and cherished offspring, which is also seen in verses like 1 John 3:1-2, where we are called children of God.
How can we practically imitate God in our daily lives?
We can practically imitate God by living a life of love, kindness, and compassion, as seen in verses like Luke 6:35-36, which instructs us to love our enemies and be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can intentionally imitate God's character in my daily interactions with others?
- How does being a 'beloved child' of God impact my sense of identity and purpose?
- What are some areas in my life where I struggle to reflect God's love and character, and how can I seek to improve in those areas?
- How can I balance the desire to imitate God with the reality of my own sinfulness and limitations?
- What role does humility play in imitating God, and how can I cultivate humility in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Ephesians 5:1
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ephesians 5:1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
Trapp's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
Ellicott's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
Cambridge Bible on Ephesians 5:1
Barnes' Notes on Ephesians 5:1
Whedon's Commentary on Ephesians 5:1
Sermons on Ephesians 5:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Walk of the New Man 02 by Rick Bovey | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following in the footsteps of Jesus. He uses the analogy of stepping in footprints to illustrate the idea of mimicking Jes |
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Elijah - Part 5 by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon emphasizes the importance of rebuilding old altars in our lives, highlighting the need for repentance, restitution, and a return to God's ways. It discusses the signifi |
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Message 05 by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of standing firm in the face of trials and temptations. He uses the analogy of putting on the full armor of God to illustrate |
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Digging Ditches in Dry Weather by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of taking action and not just relying on others to spread the word of God. He urges the audience to go beyond their comfort z |
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Saved From God's Wrath Through His Life by Alan Martin | In this sermon, the preacher begins by asking for God's presence and guidance in understanding the Word. He then explains that belief in the old rugged cross is not enough to save |
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Getting Back to Basics: The Love We Had at First by Robert Wurtz II | In this sermon, the speaker continues their study on getting back to basics. They discuss the importance of becoming fishers of men and evangelizing to win souls for God. The speak |
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Bear Ye Burdens by Bakht Singh | In this sermon, Brother Vaksing discusses the challenges faced by the people of Jerusalem as they rebuilt the broken walls and burned gates. He emphasizes that as believers, when w |






