Eph Ephesians, chapter Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 6
Children and Parents
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this represents right conduct.
“Give honor to your father and mother”—this is the first commandment that carries a promise with it—
“in order that things may go well for you and that you may live many years on the earth.”
And fathers, do not exasperate your children, but raise them with the discipline and guidance that come from the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
Slaves, render obedience to those who are your masters in the physical realm, approaching them with fear and trembling and with genuine sincerity of heart, as though serving Christ Himself,
not merely when they are watching you and in order to gain their approval, but as those who serve Christ, accomplishing God’s will from the depths of your being.
Carry out your service with eager willingness, as though rendering it to the Lord rather than to human beings,
understanding that each person will receive back from the Lord whatever good deed he performs, whether he is a slave or a free person.
And masters, demonstrate the same attitude toward them, ceasing from threats, recognizing that the One who is Master over both them and you resides in heaven, and with Him there exists no partiality.
The Complete Armor of God
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from the power of His overwhelming might.
Clothe yourselves with the complete equipment that God provides, enabling you to hold your position against the deceptive strategies of the devil.
For the battle we fight is not directed against human opponents, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers governing this present darkness, against the spiritual forces that promote evil in the heavenly realm.
Because of this, take up the complete equipment that God provides, so that you will have the ability to resist when the evil day arrives, and having accomplished everything necessary, to remain standing.
Take your stand, then, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, having clothed yourself with the breastplate that righteousness provides,
having strapped on your feet the readiness that the gospel of peace supplies.
Beyond all these things, take hold of the shield that faith provides, by means of which you will have the power to extinguish every flaming arrow that the evil one launches.
Accept the helmet that salvation provides and the sword that the Spirit supplies, which is God’s spoken word.
Through every kind of prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and toward this end remain vigilant with complete persistence and petition on behalf of all who are God’s people.
Pray also on my behalf, that the right message would be given to me whenever I open my mouth, enabling me to proclaim fearlessly the hidden truth of the gospel,
for which I serve as an ambassador, though I am bound with chains. Pray that in proclaiming it I would speak with the boldness that my duty requires.
Final Greetings and Benediction
Now in order that you may also have knowledge of my circumstances and what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and dependable servant in the Lord, will provide you with all the information.
I have sent him to you for this precise purpose, that you might learn about our situation and that he might bring encouragement to your hearts.
Peace to the brothers and sisters, along with love combined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May grace be present with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an uncorrupted and enduring love.