Ephesians 5:2
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.
Study Note
Study Note
'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.' The application of Old Testament sacrificial language ('sweet-smelling savour,' a phrase used 43 times in the Pentateuch for acceptable offerings) to the self-giving love of Christ is one of Ephesians' most powerful moves. It simultaneously explains the significance of the cross (a sacrificial offering fully acceptable to God) and establishes the ethical pattern: believers are to embody toward one another the self-giving love that characterized Christ's sacrifice — a life that becomes, through union with him, its own sweet-smelling offering.
Other Translations
and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,
And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.
Cross References
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God …
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, …
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow …
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not …
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one …
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay …
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his …
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.