Ephesians 6

Chapter 6

Children and Parents

1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,t for this is the right thing to do.2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:

3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”t

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

12 For wet are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.t16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.t

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.t
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.t

20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters,t and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness.

24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

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