Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

1Children, obey your parents as you would the Lord, because this is right.[#Pr 1:8; 6:20; 23:22; Col 3:20; #Lit parents in the Lord]

2Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise,[#Or is a preeminent commandment]

3so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.[#Or life on the earth; #Ex 20:12; #Ex 20:12]

4Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.[#Rm 10:19; #Heb 12:5]

Slaves and Masters

5Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.[#Lit according to the flesh; #Col 3:22; 1Pt 2:18; #Php 2:12; #2Co 9:11]

6Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.[#Ps 143:10; Pr 16:9; Gl 1:4; Eph 1:9; #Lit from soul]

7Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,[#Col 3:23]

8knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

9And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.[#Ac 4:29; 9:1; #Col 3:25; #Col 4:1]

Christian Warfare

10Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.[#Ac 4:33]

11Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.[#Pr 31:25; #Eph 6:11-17; #Or schemes, or tricks]

12For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.[#Php 3:3; #1Pt 3:22; #Mt 6:13; Jn 17:15; #Eph 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; Php 2:10]

13This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.[#1Th 5:8; #2Tm 4:15; 1Pt 5:9]

14Stand, therefore,[#Pr 24:16; Php 1:27]

with truth like a belt around your waist,

righteousness like armor on your chest,

15and your feet sandaled with readiness

for the gospel of peace.

16In every situation take the shield of faith,[#Gn 15:1; #Mt 8:10; Ac 3:16; Rm 1:8; 1Co 2:5; Gl 2:16; 1Tm 1:2; Heb 4:2]

and with it you will be able to extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17Take the helmet of salvation,[#1Th 5:8]

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is God’s word.

18Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.[#Mt 5:44; Ac 12:12; #Jd 20; #Pr 6:4]

19Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.[#2Co 3:12]

20For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.[#2Co 5:20]

Paul’s Farewell

21Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.[#Ti 3:12; #Or deacon]

22I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.[#Lk 16:25; #Col 4:8]

23Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[#Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42]

24Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[#Other mss add Amen.; #Lit all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption]

© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Published by: LifeWay Christian Resources