v1: Obey, be followers, imitators, obeying God rather than men, like children following a loving father.

v2: Walk in love, each step we take, each moment, to be characterised by love. Our standard is Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Love gives oneself for the blessing of others.

First, Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice to God, a whole burnt offering, utterly dedicated to God, a sweet smelling aroma. This is illustrated in the O.T.;

Abraham was prepared to give Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen 22.2);

Jephthah was willing to give "whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me" as a burnt offering (Judg 11.32);

In Lev 1.9, 13, 17, the whole animal was burned on the altar. As the first of the offerings, it was the pinnacle of all the sacrifices.

v3: Some things must not even be named, such is their awfulness; see also v12, and contrast 1 Cor 5.1. Some things are wholly inappropriate, and we are to be like innocent children, harmless as doves (Matt 10.16). Even though we are not guilty of these sins, we must not be experts on the uncleanness of unbelievers.

We may ask, ‘What is proper for God’s holy people?’

v4: Our words must also be godly, full of thankfulness; again some things are "out of place", inappropriate for Christians.

v5: As in v3, certain things are characteristic of unbelievers. This verse refers to those who habitually practice such things, as in Rev 21.8; they are guilty before God, and will pay the penalty for their sins, 1 Cor 6.9-10. They have no share in God's blessings.

Immorality, impurity and greed are described as idolatry, since they put something before God as the object of devotion.

v6: The empty words of some try to assure us that none will be punished, and all will be saved. The wrath of God will fall upon those who reject God's ways; this verse also implies that the wrath of God actually has an effect in this life also, see Rom 1.27; they receive in themselves the penalty for wrong doing. Such is a foretaste, even a warning, of the wrath to come.

Those who are disobedient, or 'sons of disobedience', is used in 2.2, to describe what Christians were before they were converted to Christ.

v7: We must not be partakers with unbelievers. They are depraved, corrupt, and we must be careful in our contacts with them.

v8: God has changed us from darkness to light in Him. The darkness is very dark, 2.1-3; 4.17-19. We must therefore walk as children of light; as in previous sections, there are things to do, and things to avoid.

v9: The evidence of God's work in us is the fruit of the Spirit, displayed in goodness, in righteousness, and in truth.

v10: Our lives must demonstrate things that please God, and we have confidence that He will honour such lives.

v11: Darkness is characterised by unfruitful works. They may be popular, widely acceptable to men, practised by those who are influential in this world. The Scripture is clear; have no fellowship with them, and avoid them. By our lives of goodness, righteousness, and truth, we expose such things are wrong.

v12: The lives of unbelievers are secret and shameful, see v3-4. We will expose such things, but still have nothing to do with them; such is the paradox and the power of the spiritual life.

v13-14: The light of Christ in our lives makes things manifest, quoting Is 60.1. The glory of the Lord is the light of Christ. The wonderful glory of God has shone on us in Jesus Christ.

v15: True wisdom is both spiritual and practical. We are to live wisely.

We are to be very careful, or circumspect (Gk: AKRIBOS), translated carefully (Luke 1.3), accurately (Acts 18.25), diligently (Matt 2.8), and perfectly (1 Thess 5.2). Wise and godly living is not something we drift into. We must decide well and choose well.

The emphasis is not so much on the avoiding of evil, although that is included; rather it is getting things 'just so', placing a foot exactly in the footprint made by another, or placing each foot in the safest place. The word also implies a thoughtfulness.

To live wisely also means we influence others to live wisely too. We need to encourage and provoke each other. We need to be active, not passive, in fulfilling this call.

v16: Redeem the time, making the most of each opportunity, making the best of each moment. Since there is still an enemy seeking to devour and spoil, even the prince of the power of the air, the appearance of each day is evil. By living wisely, we use the time for God.

Without the presence of Christians, the evil would dominate all things. See 2 Thess 2.7 about the restraint that our presence on earth brings.

v17: We need to understand the Lord's will (1 Thess 4.3; 5.18), so that we might know how to live. This is true wisdom, see also v10.

The word 'you' in this section is plural, not singular. The command, 'be filled with the Spirit,' and the consequences which Paul refers to here (v18-21 especially) can only apply in a community context. Paul is not addressing me. He is addressing us.

v18: Rather than being filled with the things of the world, we must be filled with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. The verb, be filled, teaches a continuous, on going, experience in our lives. It is often helpful to think of the sails of a boat filled with wind; a picture of life, of action, of progress.

"Debauchery", dissipation, excess, riotous living, illustrated in the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.13). This means being subject to, or deeply influenced by, the power of something else.

There is a sense in which the Christian is described as mad by the world, Acts 26.24; 2 Cor 5.13. The world sees good as folly, or even evil, Matt 11.18-19; 12.24; Acts 2.13. The world considers that both godly living, and the preaching of the gospel of Christ as worthless. God commends them, and will bless those who pursue them.

The section to 6.9 applies the principle of being filled with the Spirit into everyday situations. It is not just something for our fellowship times or worship times, but something for ordinary practical circumstances. There is to be godly order in our homes and in our relationships. Here is something considered alien by the world; but also something to be worked at by Christians.

v19: Speaking to one another, unselfish behaviour, seeking the blessing of others. We enjoy and share the joy of the Lord as we sing and make melody. In our hearts we enjoy that joy, and in our lives we share that joy, and all rebounds for the glory of the Lord Jesus. Our lives will become centred on Him, as the Holy Spirit has come to testify of Christ.

v20: We are enabled to give thanks always for all things, not for their own sake, but for the sake of Christ. The 'all things' in our lives become useful for the glory of Christ.

v21: Self-denying behaviour, submitting to each other, putting others first, Phil 2.3-4.

'Ministry is about serving others; meeting others' needs as part of a community. Submitting one to another is a part of our life as a community and in doing that, the community is blessed.' (David Devenish, Demoliishing Strongholds)

v22: Wives are to submit to their husbands in everything, see v24.

v23: The parallel is the church submitting to Christ; He is the Saviour of the body, having given Himself for the church. The husband therefore has a responsibility to provide, v28-29; 1 Tim 5.8. Just as Christ's love for us is many-faceted, so the husband must love his wife in every way.

v24: The church is to submit to Christ in all ways.

v25: The command to husbands, v28, 33; a sacrificial live. There is a wider command for the husband than for the wife.

v26-27: The effect of love, to sanctify and cleanse; to present it holy and blameless. His love promotes her loveliness.

v29: The work of love, to nourish, feed, encouraging growth to maturity; to cherish, to demonstrate affection, to treat kindly; both words apply to Christ and the church, and to husbands and wives.

This love is a jealous love, 2 Cor 11.2, and a love that considers the weaker vessel, 1 Pet 3.7.

v30: Members of His body, 1 Cor 6.15; this demands exclusive affection and real purity.

v31: The new relationship between husband and wife, where the man leaves his family home, and is joined to his wife.

v32: The relationship between husband and wife pictures the love that Christ has for His church.

v33: Bringing the section to a conclusion; husband and wife have a responsibility towards each other, fulfilling the commands of v18.

‘Paul was writing into a very different culture and calling for Christ-like headship on the part of the husband and church-like submission on the part of the wife. In that culture it would have been a huge ask of the husband to manifest leadership in a self-sacrificing way, when, most likely, he was simply used to getting things his own way. For the wife to submit to him as a leader would have been completely expected, but then to submit to his sacrificial service and love would, I imagine, have been quite disorientating.’  (Stef Liston, Gender Quality)