Ephesians 6

1  CHILDREN, OBEY your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right.2  Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise--3  That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.4  Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.5  Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]--6  Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;7  Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,8  Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.9  You masters, act on the same [principle] toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him.10  In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].11  Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.12  For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.13  Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].14  Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,15  And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. 16  Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].17  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.18  Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).19  And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),20  For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.21  Now that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord [and His service], will tell you everything.22  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts.23  Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).24  Grace (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be).

Ephesians 6

1 Children,t obey your parents in the Lords for this is right.2 “Honor your father and mother,”s which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,

3 “that it may gotwell with you and that you will liveta long time on the earth.”s

4 Fathers,t do not provoke your children to anger,t but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves,t obey your human masterst with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watchingt – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.t7 Obeyt with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lordt and not people,

8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, thiss will be rewarded by the Lord.

9 Masters,t treat your slavest the same way,t giving up the use of threats,t because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven,t and there is no favoritism with him.

Exhortations for Spiritual Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemest of the devil.12 For our strugglet is not against flesh and blood,t but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness,ts against the spiritual forcest of evil in the heavens.s13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your groundt on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm therefore, by fastenings the belt of truth around your waist,t by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,15 by fitting yourt feet with the preparation that comes from the good newst of peace,t16 and in all of this,t by taking up the shields of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvations and the swords of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 With every prayer and petition, prayt at all times in the Spirit, and to this endt be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.19 Prayt for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speakt – that I may confidently make knownt the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Farewell Comments

21 Tychicus, myt dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances,t how I am doing.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstancest and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,t and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace bet with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.st