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.

EPHESIANS 5:2KJV
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Ephesians 5:2 (KJV)

What does Ephesians 5:2 mean?

Ephesians 5:2 calls believers to live their lives guided by love, following the example of Christ, who loved humanity so deeply that he gave himself up as an offering and sacrifice to God, which was pleasing to God. The verse highlights that Christ’s self-giving love is the model for how Christians are to treat others.

Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus, encouraging them to imitate Christ’s love in their daily lives. The verse uses the language of Old Testament sacrifices to describe Jesus’ death, showing that his act was both a gift and a pleasing sacrifice to God. This sets a high standard for Christian love, rooted in selflessness and devotion.

The Greek behind Ephesians 5:2

  • ἀγάπη (agapē, G26): This word for "love" means a selfless, sacrificial kind of love. Paul is not talking about feelings or affection but about a deliberate choice to seek the good of others, just as Christ did.
  • προσφορά (prosphora, G4376) and θυσία (thysia, G2378): These words mean "offering" and "sacrifice." Paul uses both to show that Jesus’ death was not just a payment but an act of worship and devotion, echoing the language of temple sacrifices.
  • εὐωδία (euōdia, G2175) and ὀσμή (osmē, G3744): These words together mean "a sweet-smelling aroma." In the Old Testament, sacrifices that pleased God were described this way, so Paul is saying that Christ’s sacrifice was fully accepted and pleasing to God.

Why Ephesians 5:2 matters

  • Ephesians 5:2 clarifies that Christian love is not just about kindness or tolerance but is modeled on Christ’s self-giving, sacrificial love.
  • The verse connects Jesus’ death to Old Testament sacrifices, helping readers see the continuity between the Hebrew Scriptures and the message of Jesus.
  • By calling Christ’s sacrifice "a sweet-smelling savour," Paul emphasizes that God fully accepted Jesus’ offering, giving believers confidence in the sufficiency of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

Where else these words appear

“sweetsmelling” Greek G2175 · used in 3 verses

  • 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
  • Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

“savour” Greek G3744 · used in 5 verses

  • John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
  • 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
  • 2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

“offering” Greek G4376 · used in 9 verses

  • Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
  • Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
  • Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“sacrifice” Greek G2378 · used in 29 verses

  • Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
  • Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.