“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”
Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children 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 — the supreme ethical imperative: mimeomai ('imitate') theon ('God') as tekna agapēta ('beloved children'), peripateuō ('walk') en agapē ('in love'), kata to paradeigma ('according to the pattern') of Christ's agapē ('love'), his paradidōmi ('self-giving'), defined as osphrē euōdias ('fragrant offering,' aroma of thanksgiving) kai thusia theō ('and sacrifice to God').
Church Fathers on Ephesians 5:1
The events which are past have greater force than those which are yet to come, and appear to be both more wonderful and more convincing. And hence accordingly Paul founds his exhortation upon the things which have already been done for us, inasmuch as they, on Christ's account, have a greater force. For to say, “Forgive, and you shall be forgiven” Matthew 6:14, and “if you forgive not, you shall in nowise be forgiven” Matthew 6:15 — this addressed to men of understanding, and…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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