Ephesians — Chapter 6
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1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,
8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
21Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise),
3that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men:
8knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free.
9And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].
13Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one].
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
19And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with [a love] incorruptible.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,
3“that it will go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.”
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ,
6not like those who do their work only when someone is watching—as people-pleasers—but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.
7Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people,
8because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.
9Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
10Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
11Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
13For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
15by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
16and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
18With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.
19Pray for me also, that I may be given the right words when I begin to speak—that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
21Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
3“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
4You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;
6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;
8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
9You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;
16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
19on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things;
22whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.
Summary
Paul addresses household relationships: children are to obey and honor their parents (vv. 1-3), fathers are to raise their children in the Lord's instruction rather than provoke them (v. 4), and servants are to work for their masters wholeheartedly as though serving Christ, while masters are to treat their servants the same way, since God shows no favoritism (vv. 5-9). He then calls believers to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God, since the real struggle is against spiritual powers, not flesh and blood (vv. 10-13). He lists the armor's pieces — the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, readiness from the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (vv. 14-17) — and urges constant prayer, including prayer for himself to boldly proclaim the gospel despite being a prisoner for it (vv. 18-20). He closes by sending Tychicus to report on his situation and encourage the church (vv. 21-24).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik provides detailed analysis of the household code, spiritual warfare, each piece of armor, and the role of prayer in spiritual battle.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org The armour described in this chapter, piece by piece.
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Ephesians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Raising Children in the Lord (v.4) — Fathers are told not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them in the Lord's training and instruction. Are you shaping your children more by frustration or by intentional, Christ-centered discipleship?
- Working as unto Christ (vv.5-7) — Paul instructs believers to do their work as service to Christ, not merely to please people. How would your effort and attitude at work change if you saw Christ as your true employer?
- Knowing the Real Enemy (v.12) — Paul reminds believers that the real battle is against spiritual powers, not against the people in front of them. When you're in conflict, do you actually see the spiritual battle behind it, or just the person you're frustrated with?
- Putting On the Whole Armor (vv.14-17) — God provides complete spiritual armor — truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Spirit's word — for the fight believers face. Which piece of that armor are you most likely to leave off, and what would it look like to put it on today?
- Praying Always (v.18) — Prayer is what sustains the armor in active use, not a separate, occasional discipline. Is prayer a steady rhythm in your life, or only something you reach for in emergencies?