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Ephesians 6

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1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: 3“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” 4You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ; 6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; 8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free. 9You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. 10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: 19on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things; 22whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

World English Bible (public domain)

Listen to this chapter summary · ~1 min

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

Ephesians 6:10

Summary

Ephesians 6 concludes Paul's letter with practical instructions for Christian living and spiritual warfare. Paul begins by addressing the relationships within a household, urging children to obey their parents as a way of following the Lord, and reminding fathers not to provoke their children, but to raise them with godly instruction and discipline. He continues by instructing slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity as they would obey Christ, while also advising masters to treat their slaves with respect and fairness, knowing that both have the same Master in heaven. The second half of the chapter is devoted to the armor of God, where Paul encourages believers to stand firm against the devil's schemes by putting on the full armor of God, which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer and alertness, urging the readers to pray for all the saints. The letter concludes with a final blessing of peace, love with faith, and grace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

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Chapter outline

How Ephesians 6 unfolds

  1. Ephesians 6:1–4 Instructions for Children and Fathers

    Paul instructs children to obey their parents and emphasizes the importance of honoring them, citing the commandment with a promise. He advises fathers to nurture their children without provoking them to anger.

  2. Ephesians 6:5–9 Guidance for Servants and Masters

    Servants are urged to obey their earthly masters sincerely as if serving Christ, while masters are reminded to treat their servants fairly, knowing they share a Master in heaven.

  3. Ephesians 6:10–17 The Armor of God

    Paul calls believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to withstand spiritual battles. He details the components of this armor, which equip them against evil.

  4. Ephesians 6:18–20 The Role of Prayer

    The chapter highlights the necessity of prayer, urging believers to remain vigilant and pray for one another, including Paul himself as he proclaims the gospel.

  5. Ephesians 6:21–24 Final Greetings and Blessings

    Paul concludes with personal updates from Tychicus and offers blessings of peace, love, and grace to all who love Jesus Christ.

Key verses

  • Ephesians 6:10Ephesians 6:10 encapsulates the chapter's focus on relying on God's strength for both daily living and spiritual warfare.

Main themes in Ephesians 6

Christian Living

In Ephesians 6, Paul provides practical instructions for Christian living, particularly in family dynamics and work relationships, as seen in verses 1-9. By addressing the roles of children, fathers, servants, and masters, he illustrates how faith informs everyday interactions. This theme highlights the integration of faith with daily life, encouraging believers to reflect Christ in their relationships.

Spiritual Warfare

The theme of spiritual warfare is central in Ephesians 6, especially in verses 10-17, where Paul describes the armor of God. He emphasizes that the struggle is not against human opponents but spiritual forces, urging believers to prepare for this battle. This understanding shapes how Christians view their challenges and encourages reliance on God's strength.

Family Relationships

Family relationships are addressed in Ephesians 6 through specific instructions for children and fathers in verses 1-4. Paul emphasizes the need for children to obey their parents, while also urging fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to nurture them in the Lord. This guidance reflects the vital role of Christ-centered relationships within families, which serve as a foundation for the broader community of faith and the church itself.

Prayer

Prayer is emphasized in Ephesians 6, particularly in verses 18-20, where it is presented as an essential practice for spiritual strength and support among believers. Paul connects prayer to the preparation for spiritual warfare, urging believers to remain alert and to pray at all times in the Spirit. This theme underscores the importance of communal prayer, encouraging the church to intercede for one another and to seek divine assistance in their collective struggles.

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Cross-references

Passages that echo Ephesians 6

Study questions

Questions for studying Ephesians 6

  1. What does Paul say about the relationship between children and parents?
  2. How are servants instructed to view their obedience to masters?
  3. What specific pieces of armor are mentioned and their purposes?
  4. Why is it significant that Paul instructs masters to treat their servants fairly?
  5. How does Paul connect prayer with spiritual warfare in this chapter?
  6. What role does Tychicus play in the conclusion of the letter?
  7. What does the final blessing indicate about the community's relationship with Christ?

Ephesians 6: frequently asked questions

What is Ephesians 6 about?+
Ephesians 6 concludes Paul's letter with practical instructions for Christian living and spiritual warfare. Paul begins by addressing the relationships within a household, urging children to obey their parents as a way of following the Lord, and reminding fathers not to provoke their children, but to raise them with godly instruction and discipline. He continues by instructing slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity as they would obey Christ, while also advising masters to treat their slaves with respect and fairness, knowing that both have the same Master in heaven. The second half of the chapter is devoted to the armor of God, where Paul encourages believers to stand firm against the devil's schemes by putting on the full armor of God, which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer and alertness, urging the readers to pray for all the saints. The letter concludes with a final blessing of peace, love with faith, and grace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
What is the key verse in Ephesians 6?+
Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might."
What are the main themes of Ephesians 6?+
The main themes of Ephesians 6 are Christian Living, Spiritual Warfare, Family Relationships, Prayer.

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