父慈子孝

你們為人子女的,要按主的旨意聽從父母,這是理所當然的。 因為第一條帶著應許的誡命就是:「要孝敬父母, 使你在世上蒙祝福、享長壽。」 你們為人父母的不要激怒兒女,要照主的教導和警戒養育他們。

主僕之間

你們作奴僕的,要戰戰兢兢、誠誠實實、懷著敬畏的心服從你們肉身的主人,就像服從基督一樣。 不要只做一些討好人的表面工夫,要像基督的奴僕一樣從心裡遵行上帝的旨意。 要甘心樂意地工作,像是在事奉主,不是在服侍人。 要知道:不管是奴僕還是自由人,每個人所做的善事都會得到主的獎賞。 你們作主人的也一樣,要善待奴僕,不可威嚇他們。要知道你們主僕同有一位在天上的主人,祂不偏待人。

上帝所賜的軍裝

10 最後,你們要靠著主和祂的大能大力作剛強的人, 11 要穿戴上帝所賜的全副軍裝,以便能夠抵擋魔鬼的陰謀。 12 因為我們爭戰的對象不是這世上的血肉之軀,而是在這黑暗世界執政的、掌權的、管轄的和天上屬靈的邪惡勢力。 13 因此,你們要用上帝所賜的全副軍裝裝備自己,好在邪惡的時代抵擋仇敵,到爭戰結束後依舊昂首挺立。 14 務要站穩,用真理當作帶子束腰,以公義當作護心鏡遮胸, 15 把和平的福音當作鞋子穿在腳上準備行動。 16 此外,還要拿起信心的盾牌,好滅盡惡者一切的火箭。 17 要戴上救恩的頭盔,緊握聖靈的寶劍——上帝的話。 18 要靠著聖靈隨時多方禱告和祈求,警醒不怠地為眾聖徒禱告。 19 也請你們為我禱告,求上帝賜我口才,讓我勇敢地把福音的奧祕講解明白。 20 我為傳福音成了披枷帶鎖的使者。請你們為我禱告,使我能盡忠職守,放膽傳福音。

問候

21 至於我的近況,推基古會詳細告訴各位。他是主內親愛的弟兄和忠心的僕人。 22 我特地派他去你們那裡,好讓你們知道我們的近況,並且叫他去安慰和鼓勵你們。

23 願父上帝和主耶穌基督賜給各位弟兄姊妹平安、愛心和信心! 24 願所有忠貞地愛我們主耶穌基督的人都蒙恩典!

父慈子孝

你们为人子女的,要按主的旨意听从父母,这是理所当然的。 因为第一条带着应许的诫命就是:“要孝敬父母, 使你在世上蒙祝福、享长寿。” 你们为人父母的不要激怒儿女,要照主的教导和警戒养育他们。

主仆之间

你们做奴仆的,要战战兢兢、诚诚实实、怀着敬畏的心服从你们肉身的主人,就像服从基督一样。 不要只做一些讨好人的表面工夫,要像基督的奴仆一样从心里遵行上帝的旨意。 要甘心乐意地工作,像是在事奉主,不是在服侍人。 要知道:不管是奴仆还是自由人,每个人所做的善事都会得到主的奖赏。 你们做主人的也一样,要善待奴仆,不可威吓他们。要知道你们主仆同有一位在天上的主人,祂不偏待人。

上帝所赐的军装

10 最后,你们要靠着主和祂的大能大力做刚强的人, 11 要穿戴上帝所赐的全副军装,以便能够抵挡魔鬼的阴谋。 12 因为我们争战的对象不是这世上的血肉之躯,而是在这黑暗世界执政的、掌权的、管辖的和天上属灵的邪恶势力。 13 因此,你们要用上帝所赐的全副军装装备自己,好在邪恶的时代抵挡仇敌,到争战结束后依旧昂首挺立。 14 务要站稳,用真理当作带子束腰,以公义当作护心镜遮胸, 15 把和平的福音当作鞋子穿在脚上准备行动。 16 此外,还要拿起信心的盾牌,好灭尽恶者一切的火箭。 17 要戴上救恩的头盔,紧握圣灵的宝剑——上帝的话。 18 要靠着圣灵随时多方祷告和祈求,警醒不怠地为众圣徒祷告。 19 也请你们为我祷告,求上帝赐我口才,让我勇敢地把福音的奥秘讲解明白。 20 我为传福音成了披枷带锁的使者。请你们为我祷告,使我能尽忠职守,放胆传福音。

问候

21 至于我的近况,推基古会详细告诉各位。他是主内亲爱的弟兄和忠心的仆人。 22 我特地派他去你们那里,好让你们知道我们的近况,并且叫他去安慰和鼓励你们。

23 愿父上帝和主耶稣基督赐给各位弟兄姊妹平安、爱心和信心! 24 愿所有忠贞地爱我们主耶稣基督的人都蒙恩典!

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.

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.

1 He showeth the duties of children, 5 servants, 9 and masters: 10 Then he speaketh of the fierce battle that the faithful have, 12 and what weapons we must use in the same: 21 In the end he commendeth Tychicus.

Children, (A)[a]obey your parents [b]in the [c]Lord: [d]for this is right.

(B)[e]Honor thy father and mother ([f]which is the first commandment with [g]promise)

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

[h]And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in instruction and [i]information of the Lord.

(C)[j]Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, [k]according to the flesh, with [l]fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,

Not with service to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, [m]doing the will of God from the heart.

With good will, serving the [n]Lord, and not men.

[o]And know ye that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, that same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,

[p]And ye masters, do the same things unto them, putting away threatening: and know that even your master also is in heaven, neither is there (D)[q]respect of person with him.

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

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

12 [s]For we wrestle not against flesh and [t]blood, but against (E)[u]principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places.

13 [v]For this cause take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the [w]evil day, and having finished all things, stand fast.

14 Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 And your feet shod with the [x]preparation of the Gospel of peace.

16 Above all, take the shield of Faith, wherewith ye may 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 And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the [y]spirit: and watch 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 publish the secret of the Gospel,

20 Whereof I am the ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 [z]But that ye may also know mine affairs, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things.

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know mine affairs, and that he might 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 them which love our Lord Jesus Christ, to their [aa]immortality, Amen.

¶ Written from Rome unto the Ephesians, and sent by Tychicus.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:1 He cometh to another part of a family, and showeth that the duty of the children toward their parents, consisteth in obedience unto them.
  2. Ephesians 6:1 The first argument: because God hath so appointed: whereupon it followeth also, that children are so far forth bound to obey their parents, as they may not swerve from the true worship of God.
  3. Ephesians 6:1 For the Lord is author of all fatherhood, and therefore we must yield such obedience as he will have us.
  4. Ephesians 6:1 The second argument: because this obedience is most just.
  5. Ephesians 6:2 A proof of the first argument.
  6. Ephesians 6:2 The third argument, taken of the profit that ensueth thereby: because the Lord vouchsafed this commandment amongst the rest, of a special blessing.
  7. Ephesians 6:2 With a special promise: for otherwise the second commandment hath a promise of mercy to a thousand generations, but that promise is general.
  8. Ephesians 6:4 It is the duty of fathers to use their fatherly authority moderately, and to God’s glory.
  9. Ephesians 6:4 Such information and precepts, as being taken out of God’s book are holy and acceptable to him.
  10. Ephesians 6:5 Now he ascendeth to the third part of a family, to wit, to the duty both of the masters and of the servants. And he showeth that the duty of servants consisteth in a hearty love and reverence to their master.
  11. Ephesians 6:5 He mitigateth the sharpness of service, in that they are spiritually free, notwithstanding the same, and yet that spiritual freedom taketh not away corporal service, insomuch that they cannot be Christ’s, unless they serve their masters willingly and faithfully, so far forth as they may with safe conscience.
  12. Ephesians 6:5 With careful reverence: for slavish fear is not allowable, much less in Christian servants.
  13. Ephesians 6:6 To cut off occasion of all pretences, he teacheth us that it is God’s will that some are either born or made servants, and therefore they must respect God’s will, although their service be never so hard.
  14. Ephesians 6:7 Being moved with a reverence so Godward, as though ye served God himself.
  15. Ephesians 6:8 Although they serve unkind and cruel masters, yet the obedience of servants is no less acceptable to God, than the obedience of them that are free.
  16. Ephesians 6:9 It is the duty of masters to use the authority that they have over their servants modestly, and holily, seeing that they in another respect have a common master, which is in heaven, who will judge both the bond and the free.
  17. Ephesians 6:9 Either of freedom or bondage.
  18. Ephesians 6:10 He concludeth the other part of this Epistle with a grave exhortation, that all be ready, and fight constantly, trusting to spiritual weapons, until their enemies be clean put to flight. And first of all, he warneth us to take the armor of God, whereby only our enemy may be dispatched.
  19. Ephesians 6:12 Secondly he declareth that our chiefest and mightiest enemies are invisible, that we may not think that our chiefest conflict is with men.
  20. Ephesians 6:12 Against men, which are of a frail and brittle nature, against which are set spiritual subtleties, more mighty than the other by a thousand parts.
  21. Ephesians 6:12 He giveth these names to the evil angels, reason of the effects which they work: not that they are able to do the same of themselves, but because God giveth them the bridle.
  22. Ephesians 6:13 He showeth that these enemies are put to flight with the only armor of God, to wit, with uprightness of conscience, a godly and holy life, knowledge of the Gospel, faith, and to be short, with the word of God, and using daily earnest prayer for the health of the Church, and especially, for the constance of the true, godly, and valiant ministers of the word.
  23. Ephesians 6:13 See Eph. 5:16.
  24. Ephesians 6:15 That the preparation of the Gospel may be as it were shoes to you: and it is very fitly called the Gospel of peace, for that, seeing we have to go to God through most dangerous ranks of enemies, this may encourage us to go on manfully, in that we know by the doctrine of the Gospel, that we take our journey to God, who is at peace with us.
  25. Ephesians 6:18 That holy prayers may proceed from the holy Spirit.
  26. Ephesians 6:21 A familiar and very amiable declaration of his state, together with a solemn prayer, wherewith Paul is wont to end his Epistles.
  27. Ephesians 6:24 To life everlasting.