Ephesians 5:1

Ephesians 5:1
(KJV) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
(1611 KJV) Be ye therefore followers of God, as deare children.
(1587 Geneva Bible) Bee yee therefore followers of God, as deare children,
(1526 Tyndale) Be ye folowers of god as dere children

Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
(1901 ASV) Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
(AMP) Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
(CEB) Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children.
(CEV) Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.

(CSB) Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children

(ERV) You are God’s dear children, so try to be like him.
(ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
(GNB) Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.
(HCSB) Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.
(JB PHILLIPS) As children copy their fathers you, as God’s children, are to copy him.
(LB) Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father.
(THE MESSAGE) Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.
(NASV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
(NET) Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children
(NIV) Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
(NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
(NLV) Do as God would do. Much-loved children want to do as their fathers do.
(NLT) Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
(RSV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
(VOICE) So imitate God. Follow Him like adored children,
(2011 NAB-Roman Catholic) So be imitators of God, as beloved children
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Therefore, become imitators of God, as beloved children,

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
γινεσθε ουν μιμηται του θεου ως τεκνα αγαπητα

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
γινεσθε ουν μιμηται του θεου ως τεκνα αγαπητα

Corrupted Manuscripts
None

Affected Teaching
Here is another case of the modern versions instilling confusion instead of harmonious biblical truth. The Greek word in question is “mimetes” which is translated seven times in the King James as “followers.” The word is very close to being that of a disciple. One can easily imitate someone else or even imitate God up to certain point but that imitation will never bring a person to salvation or a deeper Christian walk. The King James has it correct in that one must be a follower of God. The only way one can be a true follower of God is if they are saved. To imitate the works of God such as benevolence or compassion can instill a false belief in a person that they are saved because they are exuding those things. If I imitate Christian characteristics, does that make me a Christian? The answer is no, I must be saved then I will be a true follower of God because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which implants in me Christian characteristics. False religions are the great imitators and so are the modern versions because many unbelievers in false churches use them, giving them the false idea that they are saved.

Back