independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
Imitate God — walk in love 5:1–2
1
Γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — the hinge from 4:32 — imitatio Dei, the section's thesis
ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητά,comparative — the ground of the imitation — children resemble their Father
2
καὶ περιπατεῖτε ἐν ἀγάπῃ,independent — the walk-motif resumed (4:1) — love as its sphere
καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶςcomparative — the measure of the walk — Christ's love
καὶ παρέδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν προσφορὰν καὶ θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας.comparative — coordinate with ἠγάπησεν — the cross in cultic dress (Gen 8:21; Lev 1:9)
No part in the deeds of immorality 5:3–7
vv. 3–4 — not even named: the vices of body and tongue
3
πορνεία δὲ καὶ ἀκαθαρσία πᾶσα ἢ πλεονεξία μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν,independent — the antithesis of the love-walk — a third-person prohibition
καθὼς πρέπει ἁγίοις,comparative — the standard — what becomes the consecrated
4
καὶ αἰσχρότης καὶ μωρολογία ἢ εὐτραπελία,phrase modifier — the second triad — sins of the tongue, ὀνομαζέσθω carried over
ἃ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν,relative — the neuter plural sweeps up the whole list
ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εὐχαριστία.phrase modifier — the substitute — elliptical: 'let there be' thanksgiving instead
vv. 5–7 — the warning: no inheritance, coming wrath, no partnership
5
τοῦτο γὰρ ἴστε γινώσκοντεςindependent — ἴστε read as imperative; ἴστε γινώσκοντες mirrors a Hebrew infinitive absolute
ὅτι πᾶς πόρνος ἢ ἀκάθαρτος ἢ πλεονέκτης,content — the vices of v. 3 personified; the subject suspended over the parenthesis
ὅ ἐστιν εἰδωλολάτρης,relative — the neuter ὅ — greed unmasked as idolatry
οὐκ ἔχει κληρονομίαν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ θεοῦ.content — the ὅτι clause's verb resumed — the covenant allotment (1:14, 18) denied
6
μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς ἀπατάτω κενοῖς λόγοις·independent — against the talkers-away of judgment
διὰ ταῦτα γὰρ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας.cause — the warning is no empty word — wrath already on its way (cf. 2:2–3)
7
μὴ οὖν γίνεσθε συμμέτοχοι αὐτῶν·independent — the inference — μὴ γίνεσθε answers Γίνεσθε (v. 1)
Children of light 5:8–14
vv. 8–10 — once darkness, now light: walk accordingly
8
ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος,independent — γάρ grounds v. 7 — the then/now schema (cf. 2:11–13)
νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ·independent — verbless — you ARE light, not merely in it
ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτεindependent — the imperative frame again — be what you are
9
— ὁ γὰρ καρπὸς τοῦ φωτὸς ἐν πάσῃ ἀγαθωσύνῃ καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ —cause — verbless parenthesis — light's singular fruit vs. darkness's fruitless works (v. 11)
10
δοκιμάζοντες τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ·participial — means of the walk — ongoing discernment (cf. Rom 12:2)
vv. 11–14 — take no part but expose: what light touches becomes light
11
καὶ μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις τοῦ σκότους,independent — the negative — no fellowship with barren deeds
μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ ἐλέγχετε.independent — the corrective — light does not only abstain, it unmasks
12
τὰ γὰρ κρυφῇ γινόμενα ὑπ' αὐτῶν αἰσχρόν ἐστιν καὶ λέγειν·cause — why exposure is needed — deeds too shameful even to name
13
τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς φανεροῦται,cause — why exposure works — light makes manifest
πᾶν γὰρ τὸ φανερούμενον φῶς ἐστιν.cause — the gnomic capstone — what light touches, it transforms into light
14
διὸ λέγει·independent — the citation formula (cf. 4:8) — introducing no canonical text but, most likely, a baptismal hymn
Ἔγειρε, ὁ καθεύδων,content — the hymn fragment — sleep as the old darkness
καὶ ἀνάστα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,content — resurrection language for conversion (2:1, 5–6)
καὶ ἐπιφαύσει σοι ὁ Χριστός.content — the promise — Isa 60:1–2 echoed, Christ as the dawning light
Walk wisely — be filled with the Spirit 5:15–21
vv. 15–17 — the careful walk: redeem the time, understand the will
15
Βλέπετε οὖν ἀκριβῶςindependent — the third walk-imperative frame
πῶς περιπατεῖτε,content — indirect question — the object of the watching
μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι ἀλλ' ὡς σοφοί,phrase modifier — the manner — the wisdom antithesis
16
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν,participial — the wise walk's practice — buying up every opportunity
ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν.cause — the urgency — evil days make time precious
17
διὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες,independent — the negative restated — γίνεσθε again
ἀλλὰ συνίετεindependent — the positive counterpart
τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ κυρίου.content — verbless indirect question — the object of understanding
vv. 18–21 — not wine but the Spirit: one imperative, five participles
18
καὶ μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ,independent — the false filling
ἐν ᾧ ἐστιν ἀσωτία,relative — on οἴνῳ — the antecedent read as the wine-drinking itself
ἀλλὰ πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι,independent — the governing imperative — five participles hang from this one verb
19
λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ἐν ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς,participial — participle 1 — the filled life speaks to the community
ᾄδοντες καὶ ψάλλοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ κυρίῳ,participial — participles 2 and 3 — song turned inward and Lordward
20
εὐχαριστοῦντες πάντοτε ὑπὲρ πάντων ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρί,participial — participle 4 — the εὐχαριστία of v. 4 made a way of life
21
ὑποτασσόμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ.participial — participle 5 — mutual submission: the hinge into the household code
Wives — as the church to Christ 5:22–24
22
Αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὡς τῷ κυρίῳ,independent — verbless — the verb supplied from ὑποτασσόμενοι (v. 21): the code grows out of mutual submission
23
ὅτι ἀνήρ ἐστιν κεφαλὴ τῆς γυναικὸςcause — the ground — headship
ὡς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς κεφαλὴ τῆς ἐκκλησίας,comparative — verbless — the christological analogy (cf. 1:22; 4:15)
αὐτὸς σωτὴρ τοῦ σώματος·phrase modifier — apposition — αὐτός marks where the analogy stops: Christ alone saves
24
ἀλλὰ ὡς ἡ ἐκκλησία ὑποτάσσεται τῷ Χριστῷ,comparative — fronted comparative — leans on the main clause below (ὡς … οὕτως)
οὕτως καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἐν παντί.independent — verbless again — ὑποτάσσεται carried over from the comparison
Husbands — Christ, the church, and the great mystery 5:25–33
vv. 25–27 — the pattern: he loved, gave himself, to sanctify and present her
25
Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας,independent — the husband's whole duty — one verb: love
καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν τὴν ἐκκλησίανcomparative — the measure — the same pairing as v. 2
καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς,comparative — coordinate with ἠγάπησεν — self-surrender, the cost of the love
26
ἵνα αὐτὴν ἁγιάσῃpurpose — purpose 1 — consecration
καθαρίσας τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος ἐν ῥήματι,participial — the means — the bridal bath (Ezek 16:9), read baptismally, joined to the word
27
ἵνα παραστήσῃ αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ ἔνδοξον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν,purpose — purpose 2, built on the first — the bridegroom presents the bride to himself
μὴ ἔχουσαν σπίλον ἢ ῥυτίδα ἤ τι τῶν τοιούτων,participial — the bride described — flawless
ἀλλ' ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ ἄμωμος.purpose — the third ἵνα — the goal of 1:4 reached: ἁγία καὶ ἄμωμος
vv. 28–30 — the application: the wife as one's own body
28
οὕτως ὀφείλουσιν καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες ἀγαπᾶν τὰς ἑαυτῶν γυναῖκας ὡς τὰ ἑαυτῶν σώματα.independent — οὕτως — as Christ loved the church-body, so the husband his wife-body
ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἑαυτὸν ἀγαπᾷ,independent — the aphorism — one flesh means self-love and wife-love coincide
29
οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησεν,cause — the ground — an appeal to universal experience
ἀλλὰ ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει αὐτήν,cause — the positive side of the ground — feeding and warming
καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν,comparative — verbless — ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει carried over: Christ nourishing his body
30
ὅτι μέλη ἐσμὲν τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ.cause — why Christ so tends the church — we are limbs of his own body
vv. 31–33 — Genesis 2:24 and the great mystery
31
ἀντὶ τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέραindependent — Gen 2:24 — quoted without a citation formula, flush with the argument
καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ,independent — Gen 2:24 — the cleaving
καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν.independent — Gen 2:24 — the one-flesh union, the σάρξ of v. 29 given its charter
32
τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα ἐστίν,independent — the μυστήριον — Gen 2:24's union read at full depth, not marriage's obscurity
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.independent — the referent declared — ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω: the union is Christ and the church
33
πλὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ καθ' ἕνα ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα οὕτως ἀγαπάτω ὡς ἑαυτόν,independent — πλήν — back from the mystery to the household: the husband's summary charge
ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἵνα φοβῆται τὸν ἄνδρα.independent — imperatival ἵνα — an independent command, with the subject cast forward
Analysis. The chapter is framed by flush-left purple imperatives of becoming and walking — Γίνεσθε (v. 1), περιπατεῖτε (vv. 2, 8), Βλέπετε … πῶς περιπατεῖτε (v. 15) — each trailing its own short chain: pink comparative lines keep setting Christ beside the command (vv. 2, 25, 29), and the one blue column of the first half hangs a three-line hymn fragment from the single word λέγει (v. 14) — 'Awake, sleeper', quoted as Scripture speaks though no Scripture contains it, most likely a baptismal hymn woven from Isaiah 60. The chapter's structural signature is v. 18: after the last flush-left prohibition (not wine) the imperative πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι carries five teal participles in a single suspended column — speaking, singing and psalming, giving thanks, submitting — the Spirit-filled life spelled out as one sentence; and the fifth participle, ὑποτασσόμενοι, is the hinge on which the household code turns: v. 22 is a dashed verbless line ('Wives — to your own husbands') whose verb must be borrowed from v. 21's mutual submission, so the code visibly grows out of the Spirit sentence rather than starting fresh. Interpretive choices the layout takes a side on: ἴστε (v. 5) is read as imperative ('know this'), with γινώσκοντες kept on its line as the Hebraic doubling; ἐν ᾧ (v. 18) takes οἴνῳ as its antecedent (debauchery lies in the drinking, though some read it of the whole practice); the ὡς … οὕτως correlative of v. 24 is set like a protasis, leaning forward on its verbless apodosis; the Gen 2:24 citation (v. 31) stands flush left because no citation formula introduces it; and τὸ μυστήριον (v. 32) is taken as the one-flesh union of Gen 2:24 read of Christ and the church — 'great' in what it signifies, not obscure.