How children should behave toward their fathers and mothers; likewise fathers toward their children, servants toward their masters, and masters toward their servants. An exhortation to the spiritual battle, and what weapons Christians should fight with.
6 Children, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honour your father and mother (which is the first commandment that has any promise with it), 3 so that you may prosper and live long on the earth. 4 And ye fathers, do not move your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to your carnal masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ – 6 not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will: 7 serving the Lord, and not men. 8 And remember, whatever good thing anyone does, that he will receive back again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And ye masters, do the same toward your servants, putting away threatenings. And remember that even your master also is in heaven; neither is there any respect of person with him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the armour of God so that you are able to stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rule, against power; namely against the rulers of the world, of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness, for heavenly things. 13 So then, take up the armour of God, so that you are able to resist in the evil day, and to stand perfect in all things.
14 Stand therefore, your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and shod with shoes prepared by the gospel of peace. 16 Above all, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray always with every sort of prayer and supplication, and that in the Spirit. And keep vigil also with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – 19 and for me: that utterance may be given to me; that I may open my mouth boldly to utter the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am a messenger in bonds; that I may speak freely therein as I ought to speak.
21 But so that you may also know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything, 22 whom I sent to you for this same purpose: so that you could know what circumstances I stand in, and so that he could comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in pureness. Amen.
Sent from Rome to the Ephesians
by the hand of
Tychicus.