Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:1

"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;" — Ephesians 5:1 (ASV)

The apostle carries these injunctions over from the previous chapter and closes this section on Christian behavior patterns at v.2. “Be” (“become”) confirms the close relation between this verse and the last where the same expression has been employed. Here it introduces a staggering conception: Paul invites his readers to imitate God! What follows elucidates his meaning. A child will show himself to be a true child by wanting to grow up like his father. In the same way, God’s precious children will be eager to copy him, as he enables them. This was the teaching of Jesus himself.