Ephesians 5:1

Commentary on Ephesians 5:1

1. The Text

Ephesians 5:1 (King James Version):
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

This short verse is deceptively simple. It sits at the hinge between Paul’s call to put off the old life (Ephesians 4) and his call to walk in love, light, and wisdom (Ephesians 5[i]). It is both a summary of what has come before and a foundation for what follows.

2. Exegetical Commentary

2.1 The “therefore” and its context

Paul’s “therefore” points back to the ethical transformation he has just described. In Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) he writes:
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

The logic is clear: because God has shown kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, believers are to imitate Him. The imitation is not abstract; it is grounded in the gospel.

Paul’s argument throughout Ephesians is that salvation is entirely God’s work, and the Christian life is the Spirit-empowered outworking of that salvation. The call to imitation is not moralism; it is the fruit of grace.

2.2 “Followers of God”

The word translated “followers” is the Greek mimētai, from which we get the English word “mimic”. Paul is calling Christians to imitate God Himself. This is astonishing. No other religion dares to say such a thing. But Paul can say it because believers have been united to Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

This imitation is not about copying God’s divine attributes (such as omnipotence or omniscience). It is about reflecting His moral character—His love, holiness, mercy, and truth.

This is reinforced by the next verse, 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.”

To imitate God is to imitate Christ, who is the perfect revelation of God’s character.

2.3 “As dear children”

Paul does not say “as slaves” or “as employees” or “as soldiers.” He says “as dear children.” The imitation is relational, affectionate, and grounded in identity.

Children naturally imitate their parents. They do not imitate to earn their place in the family; they imitate because they belong.

This echoes Ephesians 1:5 (KJV):
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

The Christian life is the outworking of adoption. We imitate God because we are already His beloved children.

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3. Theological Teaching

3.1 Adoption as the foundation of Christian ethics

Christian theology has always emphasised that obedience flows from grace, not the other way around. Paul grounds Christian ethics in adoption. God’s love precedes our imitation.

This protects us from legalism (trying to earn God’s favour) and from antinomianism (ignoring God’s commands). We obey because we are loved.

3.2 Christ as the pattern and power of imitation

Christ is both the model and the means of imitation. We imitate God by looking at Christ, and we imitate Christ by relying on the Spirit He gives.

This aligns with the Christian emphasis on union with Christ: all Christian living flows from being united to Him.

3.3 Holiness as relational, not merely behavioural

Paul’s call to imitate God is not a checklist of behaviours. It is a call to reflect the character of the One who has adopted us. Holiness is personal, relational, and transformative.

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4. Application to Modern Christian Living

4.1 Identity before activity

Many Christians struggle with guilt, perfectionism, or a sense of never being “enough.” Paul’s order is liberating: you are a “dear child” first, and an imitator second. Your identity is secure in Christ.

4.2 Love as the primary mark of imitation

Paul immediately moves from imitation to love (Ephesians 5:2). In a world marked by self-protection, cynicism, and transactional relationships, Christians are called to a love that is sacrificial, patient, and generous.

4.3 Holiness in everyday life

Ephesians 5 goes on to describe practical holiness:

• avoiding sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3)
  “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.”
• avoiding corrupt speech (Ephesians 5:4)
  “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
• walking as children of light (Ephesians 5:8)
  “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”
• making wise choices (Ephesians 5:15)
  “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

Imitating God touches every part of life—relationships, speech, sexuality, work, and worship.

4.4 A countercultural witness

In a culture that prizes self-expression, Paul calls believers to God-expression. Our lives are meant to reflect the character of our Father. This is not oppressive; it is freeing. It gives purpose, direction, and dignity.

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5. Meditation Guide

5.1 Reflect

Sit quietly and reflect on the words:
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

Ask yourself:

• Do I live as someone who knows they are a dearly loved child of God?
• Where am I imitating God’s character well?
• Where am I resisting His shaping work?

5.2 Pray

A suggested prayer:

“Father, thank you that in Jesus Christ I am your dearly loved child. Help me to imitate you not out of fear or duty, but out of love and gratitude. Shape my heart so that my life reflects your character. Teach me to walk in love, light, and wisdom. Amen.”

5.3 Act

Choose one area of life this week where you will intentionally imitate God’s character:

• showing kindness to someone difficult
• forgiving someone who has hurt you
• speaking words that build up
• choosing purity in thought and action
• practising gratitude instead of complaint

Small acts of obedience, done in faith, shape a Christlike life.

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[i] Ephesians 5

King James Version

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 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.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.