Ephesians 5 2

Ephesians 5:2 kjv

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.

Ephesians 5:2 nkjv

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:2 niv

and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2 esv

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2 nlt

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Ephesians 5 verses

Ephesians 5 2 meaning

This verse is a foundational command for believers, calling them to live a life characterized by self-sacrificial love, modeled directly on the supreme example of Jesus Christ. It instructs believers not merely to feel love but to embody it in their conduct, specifically by giving of themselves for others. This "walk" in love is deeply rooted in Christ's ultimate act of selfless devotion, where He willingly offered Himself as a sin offering to God. This sacrifice was not only substitutionary for humanity but also wholly pleasing and acceptable to God, described in terms drawn from the Old Testament sacrificial system, indicating its perfection and efficacy.

Ephesians 5 2 Context

Ephesians 5:2 flows directly from the command in Ephesians 5:1 to "be imitators of God as beloved children." It immediately provides the most critical example of how to imitate God: through a life defined by love, specifically the self-sacrificing love demonstrated by Christ. The preceding verses (Eph 4:25-32) highlight aspects of the "new self," emphasizing positive conduct like truthfulness, righteous anger management, hard work, beneficial speech, kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. These are all practical expressions of love. Chapters 4 and 5 thus present a stark contrast between the old, sinful way of life and the new life in Christ, characterized by unity, holiness, and above all, Christ-like love. The broader historical and cultural context for the original audience in Ephesus would include a vibrant pagan environment filled with idolatry, various mystery cults, and prevalent sexual immorality, which chapters 5 and 6 directly address, urging believers to live distinctly as children of light rather than conforming to the darkness of their surrounding culture. Christ's "fragrant offering and sacrifice" implicitly countered the numerous, often self-serving or superstitious, animal sacrifices offered in pagan temples, positioning Christ's offering as the sole, perfect, and universally effective atonement pleasing to the one true God.

Ephesians 5 2 Word analysis

• And walk (Καὶ περιπατεῖτε - Kai peripatete):
  • And: Links directly to the previous verse (Eph 5:1), continuing the exhortation to imitate God.
  • walk (περιπατεῖτε - peripatete): Present imperative, active voice. Implies a continuous action, a habitual way of life, or a manner of conduct. It's not just an occasional act but a steady, progressive journey of living. This is a common metaphor in Paul's letters for daily conduct (e.g., Col 1:10; Rom 13:13).
• in love (ἐν ἀγάπῃ - en agapē):
  • in: Preposition denoting the sphere or element within which one's life is lived. Love is the defining characteristic and atmosphere of the believer's existence.
  • love (ἀγάπῃ - agapē): This is not merely affection or emotion but a moral, benevolent, self-sacrificial love, prioritizing the good of others. It's the divine love first expressed by God, not dependent on the merit of the object loved. It's distinct from philia (brotherly affection) or eros (romantic/passionate love).
• as Christ loved us (καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς - kathōs kai ho Christos ēgapēsen hēmas):
  • as (καθὼς - kathōs): Introduces the model and standard. Christ's love is the perfect example, not merely a suggestion. It defines the quality and intensity of the love believers are to manifest.
  • Christ (ὁ Χριστὸς - ho Christos): Jesus, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the divine Son. His person and work are central.
  • loved (ἠγάπησεν - ēgapēsen): Aorist tense, indicating a specific, completed historical act—His sacrifice. This love is concrete and demonstrative, not abstract.
  • us (ἡμᾶς - hēmas): Inclusive, referring to believers, the Church. The recipient of Christ's saving love.
• and gave Himself up for us (καὶ παρέδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν - kai paredōken heauton hyper hēmōn):
  • and gave Himself up (παρέδωκεν ἑαυτὸν - paredōken heauton): "Gave over himself." Implies voluntary surrender and complete devotion. Paredōken often describes judicial handover to an enemy (e.g., Jesus handed over to Pilate), but with heauton ("himself"), it becomes a deliberate, self-initiated act. It underscores the ultimate act of Christ's love—His death on the cross.
  • for us (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν - hyper hēmōn): "On behalf of us" or "in place of us." Signifies a substitutionary and beneficial act, highlighting the atoning nature of His sacrifice. He did it for our benefit and reconciliation.
• a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God (προσφορὰν καὶ θυσίαν τῷ Θεῷ εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας - prosforan kai thysian tō Theō eis osmēn euōdias):
  • a fragrant offering and a sacrifice (προσφορὰν καὶ θυσίαν - prosforan kai thysian): Two distinct yet related terms: Prosephora (offering/presentation, often of food or gift, sometimes including a bloodless sacrifice like grain) and Thysia (a bloody sacrifice, an act of ritual killing). Their combination emphasizes the totality and significance of Christ's act: He was both the presented gift and the atoning victim. This language directly evokes the Old Testament sacrificial system.
  • to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The ultimate recipient of Christ's sacrifice. This highlights the vertical dimension of the atonement—reconciling humanity with God.
  • a fragrant offering (εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας - eis osmēn euōdias): Literally, "for a fragrance of sweet smell/odor." This is a direct allusion to the "soothing aroma" (or "sweet savor") often found in Leviticus describing sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God (e.g., Gen 8:21; Lev 1:9, 13, 17). It indicates divine approval and satisfaction with Christ's self-offering.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And walk in love: This phrase encapsulates the practical, ethical implication of being "imitators of God" (Eph 5:1). Love is not an optional extra but the very environment and motivation for the believer's continuous journey in life, transforming abstract divine imitation into concrete daily actions.
• as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us: This sets the standard and provides the enabling power. Christ's love is not passive; it is demonstrated through His radical self-giving (the core of His atonement). His act of self-sacrifice defines the nature of the love believers are called to embody. The substitutionary aspect ("for us") implies that believers are to similarly act on behalf of and for the benefit of others.
• a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God: This clarifies the purpose and result of Christ's self-giving. Using terms from the Old Testament sacrificial system, Paul indicates that Christ's death fulfilled the Old Testament types. It was both a perfect, sinless presentation (prosforan) and a penal, atoning blood-sacrifice (thysian), wholly pleasing and acceptable to God. This satisfaction from God's perspective is crucial—it's not just a noble death but an efficacious divine transaction.

Ephesians 5 2 Bonus section

The concept of Christ's sacrifice being a "fragrant offering" to God connects profoundly to God's sensory appreciation, particularly His nose, as found in the Old Testament. This anthropomorphism in Scripture emphasizes God's satisfaction and delight in a pure, unblemished, and willingly offered sacrifice. It transcends a mere legal transaction, indicating a relationship where a holy God finds pleasure in the obedient and loving self-giving of His Son, an aroma utterly distinct from the "stench" of human sin (Isa 1:13). This acceptance forms the basis for the believer's own acceptability before God. Furthermore, the imperative to "walk in love" immediately following the call to be "imitators of God" suggests that the primary way we reflect God's nature is through the active expression of Christ-like love. This elevates love from a virtue to the fundamental characteristic of the redeemed life, implying that any spiritual endeavor devoid of this quality is deficient.

Ephesians 5 2 Commentary

Ephesians 5:2 issues a call to continuous, imitative action, urging believers to embody the self-sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus Christ. This "walk" or manner of life is not mere sentiment but active benevolence towards others, rooted in Christ's historical, completed act of surrendering His life. His voluntary giving of Himself "for us" signifies a substitutionary atonement, an act of vicarious suffering to reconcile humanity to God. This sacrifice was unique and ultimate, described in terms drawn from the Old Testament ritual system ("fragrant offering and a sacrifice"), indicating its perfection and divine approval. It signifies that Christ's act was the definitive fulfillment of all prior animal sacrifices, being utterly pleasing and satisfying to God. For believers, this means our love should similarly be proactive, costly, and aimed at the well-being of others, always reflecting the source and standard found in Christ's selfless obedience unto death. For instance, forgiving someone who wronged you even when it's difficult, serving a community need without expecting reward, or genuinely prioritizing a spouse's needs over your own all reflect this Christ-like posture of self-giving.