Children and Parents

(A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (B)Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

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

Slaves and Masters

(E)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [a]masters according to the flesh, with (F)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, (G)as to Christ; (H)not [b]by way of [c]eye-service, as (I)people-pleasers, but as (J)slaves of Christ, (K)doing the will of God from the [d]heart. With goodwill [e]render service, (L)as to the Lord, and not to people, (M)knowing that (N)whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, (O)whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and (P)give up threatening, knowing that (Q)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is (R)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, (S)be strong in the Lord and in (T)the strength of His might. 11 (U)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (V)schemes of the devil. 12 For our (W)struggle is not against [f](X)flesh and blood, but (Y)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (Z)world forces of this (AA)darkness, against the (AB)spiritual forces of wickedness in (AC)the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up (AD)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (AE)resist on (AF)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, (AG)having belted your waist with truth, and having (AH)put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having (AI)strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [g]in addition to all, taking up the (AJ)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (AK)flaming arrows of (AL)the evil one. 17 And take (AM)the helmet of salvation and the (AN)sword of the Spirit, which is (AO)the word of God.

18 [h]With every (AP)prayer and request, [i](AQ)pray at all times (AR)in the Spirit, and with this in view, [j](AS)be alert with all (AT)perseverance and every (AU)request for all the [k]saints, 19 and (AV)pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me (AW)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (AX)boldness (AY)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an (AZ)ambassador (BA)in [l]chains; that [m]in proclaiming it I may speak (BB)boldly, (BC)as I ought to speak.

21 (BD)Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [n]what I am doing, (BE)Tychicus, (BF)the beloved brother and faithful [o]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [p](BG)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [q]about us, and that he may (BH)comfort your hearts.

23 (BI)Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and (BJ)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [r]with incorruptible love.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:5 I.e., earthly masters, as in first-century Roman culture
  2. Ephesians 6:6 Lit according to
  3. Ephesians 6:6 I.e., only when the master is watching
  4. Ephesians 6:6 Lit soul
  5. Ephesians 6:7 Lit rendering
  6. Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh
  7. Ephesians 6:16 Lit in all
  8. Ephesians 6:18 Lit Through
  9. Ephesians 6:18 Lit praying
  10. Ephesians 6:18 Lit being
  11. Ephesians 6:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  12. Ephesians 6:20 Lit a chain
  13. Ephesians 6:20 Two early mss I may speak it boldly
  14. Ephesians 6:21 Or how
  15. Ephesians 6:21 Or minister
  16. Ephesians 6:22 Lit Whom I have sent to you
  17. Ephesians 6:22 Lit the things about us
  18. Ephesians 6:24 Lit in incorruption

父母与儿女

你们作儿女的,要在主里听从父母,因为这是理所当然的。 2-3 “要孝敬父母,使你得福,在世长寿。”这是第一条带着应许的诫命。 你们作父亲的,不要激怒儿女,却要照着主的教训和劝戒,养育他们。

主人和仆人

你们作仆人的,要存着敬畏、战兢和真诚的心,听从世上的主人,好象听从基督一样。 作事不要只作给人看,像那些讨人欢心的一样,却要像基督的仆人,从心里遵行 神的旨意, 甘心服务,像是服事主,不是服事人。 你们知道,无论是奴仆或自由的人,如果作了甚么善事,都必从主那里得到赏赐。 你们作主人的,也要照样对待奴仆,不要威吓他们;你们知道,他们和你们在天上同有一位主,他并不偏待人。

穿戴 神所赐的军装

10 最后,你们要靠主的大能大力,在他里面刚强。 11 要穿戴 神所赐的全副军装,使你们能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。 12 因为我们的争战,对抗的不是有血有肉的人,而是执政的、掌权的、管辖这黑暗世界的和天上的邪灵。 13 所以要穿起 神所赐的全副军装,使你们在这邪恶的时代里可以抵挡得住,并且在作完了一切之后,还能站立得稳。 14 因此,你们要站稳,用真理当带子束腰,披上公义的胸甲, 15 把和平的福音预备好了,当作鞋子,穿在脚上, 16 拿起信心的盾牌,用来扑灭那恶者所有的火箭; 17 并且要戴上救恩的头盔,拿起圣灵的宝剑,就是 神的道, 18 借着各样的祷告和祈求,随时在圣灵里祈祷,并且要在这事上恒久警醒,为众圣徒祈求。 19 也要为我祈求,使我传讲的时候,得着当说的话,可以坦然无惧地讲明福音的奥秘, 20 (我为这奥秘作了被捆锁的使者),也使我按着应当说的,放胆宣讲这福音的奥秘。

祝福

21 亲爱的推基古弟兄是主里忠心的仆人,他会把我的一切都告诉你们,使你们可以知道我的景况。 22 为了这缘故,我就差他到你们那里去,好让你们明白我们的近况,并且叫他安慰你们的心。

23 愿平安、慈爱、信心,从父 神和主耶稣基督临到众弟兄。 24 愿一切以不朽的爱爱我们主耶稣基督的人,都蒙恩惠。