儿女与父母

你们做儿女的,要在主里顺从自己的父母,因为这是理所当然的。 “要孝敬父母,使你得福,在地上长寿。”[a]这是第一条[b]带着应许的诫命。 你们做父亲的,不要惹自己儿女生气,而要照着主的训练和警戒养育他们。

奴仆与主人

你们做奴仆的,要怀着敬畏和战兢,以忠实的心顺从自己在世上的[c]主人,就像听从基督一样。 不要只在人眼前服事,像是讨人的欢心,而要像基督的奴仆,从心里遵行神的旨意。 要甘心乐意地服事,如同服事主,不是服事人, 因为你们知道:每个人,无论是奴隶或是自由人,如果做了什么美善的事,就将从主那里领受这事的回报。 你们做主人的,对奴仆也要这样做,不要威吓他们,因为你们知道,他们和你们同样有一位主人在天上,而且他是不偏待人的。

属灵争战

10 最后,[d]你们要在主里藉着他力量的权能得以刚强。 11 你们要配上神的全副武装,使你们得以站立,对付魔鬼的骗局, 12 因为我们不是与血肉之体搏斗,而是与那些统治的、掌权的、管辖这黑暗世界的[e],以及天上邪恶的属灵势力搏斗。 13 为此,要拿起神的全副武装,好使你们在邪恶的日子能够抵挡,并且在完成一切以后,还站立得住。 14 所以,你们要站立得住:

用真理束上腰,穿上公义的护胸甲;
15 把所预备好的和平[f]福音,穿在脚上;
16 在任何情况下,要拿起信仰的盾牌;
你们藉着它就能消灭那恶者一切燃烧的飞箭;
17 并且要接受救恩的头盔和圣灵的宝剑——就是神的话语。

18 你们要以各样的祷告和祈求,藉着圣灵时刻祈祷;而且为此警醒,以极大的忍耐,为所有圣徒祈求, 19 也为我祈求,好使我在开口的时候被赐予话语,能坦然无惧地让人明白福音的奥秘—— 20 为此,我成了带锁链的特使。请为我祈求[g],使我能照着应该说的,放胆传道。

信末的问候

21 在主里蒙爱的弟兄、忠心的仆人[h]特其库斯,会让你们明白一切,好让你们也知道有关我的事和我现在所做的事。 22 我正是为此派他到你们那里去,好让你们知道有关我们的事,并且让他安慰你们的心。

23 愿平安以及随着信仰的爱,从父神和主耶稣基督临到弟兄们! 24 愿恩典与所有爱我们主耶稣基督的人同在——直到永远[i][j]

Footnotes

  1. 以弗所书 6:2 《出埃及记》20:12;《申命记》5:16。
  2. 以弗所书 6:2 第一条——或译作“最重要的”。
  3. 以弗所书 6:5 世上的——原文直译“肉体的”。
  4. 以弗所书 6:10 有古抄本附“我的弟兄们,”。
  5. 以弗所书 6:12 管辖这黑暗世界的——原文直译“属这黑暗的世界掌管者”。
  6. 以弗所书 6:15 和平——或译作“平安”。
  7. 以弗所书 6:20 请为我祈求——辅助词语。
  8. 以弗所书 6:21 仆人——或译作“执事”。
  9. 以弗所书 6:24 直到永远——原文直译“在不朽中”。
  10. 以弗所书 6:24 有古抄本附“阿们。”

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

And, 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.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For 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.

13 Wherefore 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.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 But 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:

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Chapter 6

Christ and the Members of the Household[a]

Children and Parents. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for it is only right that you should do so. “Honor your father and your mother.” This is the first commandment that is connected with a promise: “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters. Slaves, be constant in your unwavering obedience to your earthly masters with fear and trembling and with the same heartfelt sincerity that you show to Christ. Do this not just when they are watching you, as if you only had to please human beings, but as slaves of Christ, wholeheartedly carrying out the will of God. Do your work willingly, as for the Lord and not for human beings, knowing that whatever good we may do, whether as slaves or as free men, we will be repaid by the Lord.

And masters, treat your slaves fairly. Stop threatening them. Remember that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and he shows no favoritism.

The Christian Warfare[b]

10 Put On the Armor of God. Finally, find your strength in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the deceit of the devil. 12 For we are not struggling against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, the powers, and the cosmic rulers of this present darkness, and against the spirits of evil in the heavens.

13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, so that you will be able to hold fast on the evil day and to hold your ground with all your strength. 14 Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness clothing you, 15 and with your feet shod in zeal to proclaim the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances, hold in your hand the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation as well as the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Be Vigilant in Prayer. In all of your prayers and entreaties, pray always in the Spirit. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that whenever I open my mouth, I may be given the proper words to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as is my duty.

Conclusion[c]

21 A Personal Message. So that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will keep you informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this specific purpose, so that you will know how we are and that your hearts may be encouraged.

23 Final Greeting. May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant peace and love with faith to all the brethren.

24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying devotion.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:1 Christian life also gives a new meaning to relations between children and parents. In an age less attentive than ours to the lot of little children, Paul was already emphasizing the responsibility of parents, without denying the duties of the young. The atmosphere he suggests is one of dialogue.


    As for slavery, Paul does not pass judgment on the social structure of his age (see 1 Cor 7:21-22; Col 3:22-25; 1 Tim 6:1-2; Tit 2:9-10; Philem), but he does foretell new relations between master and slave, since all are equal before God, whatever the differences in their roles and social obligations.

  2. Ephesians 6:10 Christ’s triumph over evil and the devil must be appropriated by individual Christians in the human sphere through a kind of spiritual warfare against the malevolent spirits in the heavens. For this, Christians need to be clothed with the armor of God (see Isa 11:5; 59:17; see also Wis 5:17-20)—a spiritual armor. They must strive to counter the forces of evil by relying on the Gospel and prayer.
  3. Ephesians 6:21 Paul issues a personal message and a final blessing. He sends Tychicus, his coworker, to carry the Letter personally to the addressees and to be his surrogate. He then offers final greetings. The fact that he does not give any personal references such as can be found in his Letters seems to indicate that the Letter was a circular one, not sent to the Ephesians alone.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(A) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a](B)

Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children;(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(D)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(E) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(F) just as you would obey Christ.(G) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(H) doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(I) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(J) whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(K) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(L) with him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(M) and in his mighty power.(N) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(O) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(P) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(Q) against the powers(R) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(S) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(T) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(U) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(V) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(W) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(X) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(Y) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(Z) and the sword of the Spirit,(AA) which is the word of God.(AB)

18 And pray in the Spirit(AC) on all occasions(AD) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(AE) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(AF) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(AG) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(AH) make known the mystery(AI) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(AJ) in chains.(AK) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus,(AL) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(AM) and that he may encourage you.(AN)

23 Peace(AO) to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[d]

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
  2. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
  3. Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  4. Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.