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Children, Honor Your Parents

Children, be obeying your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Be honoring your father and mother”— which is the first commandment with a promise— “in order that it may be well with you and you may be long-lived upon the earth” [Deut 5:16].

Fathers, Nourish Your Children In The Lord

And fathers, do not be provoking your children to anger, but be nourishing them in the training[a] and admonition[b] of the Lord.

Slaves And Masters, Live As Slaves of Christ

Slaves, be obeying your masters according-to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ— not by way of eye-service as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, serving with good-will as to the Lord and not to people, knowing that each one, if he does anything good, will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, be doing the same things to them, giving-up the threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no respect-of-persons with Him.

Finally, Put On The Full Armor of God So You Can Stand Against The Spiritual Forces of Evil

10 Finally, become-strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. 11 Put-on the full-armor of God so-that you may be able to stand against the schemes[c] of the devil, 12 because the struggle[d] for us is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers[e] of this darkness, against the spiritual forces[f] of evilness in the heavenly-places. 13 For this reason, take-up the full-armor of God in order that you may be able to resist[g] on the evil day, and having worked[h] everything, to stand.

Stand Armored With Truth, Righteousness, And Faith, Wielding God’s Word And Prayer

14 Stand [firm] therefore, having girded[i] your waist with truth, and having put-on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having sandaled your feet with the readiness[j] of the good-news of peace, 16 with all these having taken-up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword[k] of [l] the Spirit, which is the Word of God, 18 praying with every-kind-of prayer and petition at every opportunity[m] in the Spirit, and keeping-alert for it with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints— 19 and for me, that a word may be given to me in connection with the opening of my mouth with boldness to make-known the mystery of the good-news 20 for the sake of which I am-an-ambassador in a chain, that with[n] it I may speak-boldly[o] as I ought-to speak.

Closing Remarks

21 Now in order that you also may know the things concerning me, what I am doing, Tychicus will make everything known to you— the beloved brother and faithful minister[p] in the Lord 22 whom I sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know the things concerning us and he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all the ones loving our Lord Jesus Christ with undecayability[q].

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:4 Or, instruction, discipline.
  2. Ephesians 6:4 Or, warning, instruction.
  3. Ephesians 6:11 Or, stratagems, methods.
  4. Ephesians 6:12 Or, wrestling, conflict, one-on-one battle.
  5. Ephesians 6:12 Or, world forces, world rulers.
  6. Ephesians 6:12 Or, beings, hosts.
  7. Ephesians 6:13 Or, oppose, withstand.
  8. Ephesians 6:13 Or, done, accomplished, overcome.
  9. Ephesians 6:14 Or, tied.
  10. Ephesians 6:15 Or, preparedness.
  11. Ephesians 6:17 Or, saber, dagger.
  12. Ephesians 6:17 Or, belonging to; from.
  13. Ephesians 6:18 at every opportunity. Or, at all times; or, on every occasion.
  14. Ephesians 6:20 That is, with the word, or, with my mouth; or, in order that in-connection-with it [the mystery of the good news].
  15. Ephesians 6:20 Or, speak freely, speak openly.
  16. Ephesians 6:21 Or, servant.
  17. Ephesians 6:24 Or, immortality. That is, with a love that is unfading, undiminishing, and thus, sincere; or, a love in union with immortality, a forever love. Or, Grace with immortality be with all the ones loving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(A) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a](B)

Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children;(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(D)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(E) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(F) just as you would obey Christ.(G) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(H) doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(I) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(J) whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(K) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(L) with him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(M) and in his mighty power.(N) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(O) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(P) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(Q) against the powers(R) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(S) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(T) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(U) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(V) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(W) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(X) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(Y) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(Z) and the sword of the Spirit,(AA) which is the word of God.(AB)

18 And pray in the Spirit(AC) on all occasions(AD) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(AE) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(AF) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(AG) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(AH) make known the mystery(AI) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(AJ) in chains.(AK) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus,(AL) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(AM) and that he may encourage you.(AN)

23 Peace(AO) to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[d]

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
  2. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
  3. Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  4. Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.