Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,^[a] for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise^(A)— ³ “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

⁴ And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.^(B)

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^[b] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,^{(C) 6} not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. ⁷ Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, ⁸ knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.

⁹ And, masters,^[c] do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lord^[d] in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.^(D)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; ¹¹ put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, ¹² for our^[e] struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present^[f] darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.^{[g](E) 13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.^{(F) 14} Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness^{(G) 15} and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ With all of these,^[h] take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(H) 17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^{(I) 18} Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.^{(J) 19} Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,^{[i](K) 20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.^(L)

Personal Matters and Benediction

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.^{(M) 22} I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

²³ Peace be to the brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^{(N) 24} Grace be with all who have an undying love for^[j] our Lord Jesus Christ.^[k]