# Overview Ephesians Chapter 6 begins with an exhortation to children and parents, emphasizing the importance of honoring and obeying one's parents as commanded in the #TenCommandments. This commandment is highlighted as the first with a promise, which is that it may go well with them and that they may live long in the land. #Fathers are instructed not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the #Lord. The chapter then transitions to the relationship between slaves and masters, urging obedience to earthly masters with sincerity and respect, as if serving #Christ, and reminding masters to treat their slaves with the same respect, knowing that both have the same Master in heaven, who shows no partiality. The chapter culminates with the famous passage on the "Armor of God," encouraging believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to stand against the schemes of the #devil. This spiritual armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the readiness of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The apostle #Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer and alertness, urging the #Ephesians to pray at all times in the Spirit. He concludes with a personal request for prayer for himself, that he may declare the gospel boldly, as he should. The chapter closes with a benediction of peace, love, and grace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. ## Theological Insights Ephesians 6 offers profound insights into the Christian life, emphasizing spiritual warfare, familial relationships, and the Christian work ethic. 1. **Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God**: Verses 10-18 address the reality of spiritual warfare for believers, urging them to "put on the full armor of God." This passage highlights the unseen battle against spiritual forces of evil, reminding Christians that their struggle is not against flesh and blood. The #ArmorOfGod includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God, symbolizing the spiritual resources God provides to stand firm. The emphasis on prayer (v. 18) as a continuous and all-encompassing practice underscores its vital role in maintaining spiritual vigilance and strength. This teaching echoes the call for spiritual alertness seen in [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 5|1 Peter 5:8]] and the power of prayer in [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 4|Philippians 4:6-7]]. 2. **Family and Social Relationships**: Verses 1-9 focus on the Christian household and workplace. Children are urged to obey their parents "in the Lord," which reflects the commandment with a promise found in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 20|Exodus 20:12]]. Fathers are instructed not to provoke their children but to bring them up with discipline and instruction of the Lord, emphasizing a nurturing approach rather than one of harshness. In the context of work, servants (or slaves) are to obey their earthly masters with sincerity, as they would obey Christ. Masters, in turn, are reminded to treat their servants well, knowing that they too have a Master in heaven. This mutual respect and service reflect the Christian principle of equality before God, as further explored in [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3|Colossians 3:22-24]]. 3. **Christ-Centered Life and Authority**: The overarching theme in Ephesians 6 is living a life centered on #Christ. Authority, whether in the family or workplace, is to be exercised in a manner that reflects Christ's lordship. The chapter concludes with Paul’s request for prayer to boldly proclaim the gospel (v. 19-20), demonstrating the need for divine assistance in fulfilling one's calling. This is echoed in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 4|Acts 4:29-31]], where the early church prays for boldness in the face of persecution. Ephesians 6, therefore, encapsulates key aspects of the Christian life—spiritual preparedness, godly relationships, and Christ-like service—anchoring all actions and relationships in the authority and example of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. ## Thematic Connections ### Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God Ephesians 6 presents a vivid depiction of the Christian life as a spiritual battle, calling believers to take up the full armor of God. This theme of spiritual warfare is rooted in the broader biblical narrative of the struggle between good and evil. The imagery of armor echoes the Old Testament descriptions of God as a warrior who equips His people, as seen in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 59|Isaiah 59:17]] and [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 20|2 Chronicles 20:15]]. The armor includes elements such as the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, and shield of faith, underscoring the necessity of divine provision and protection in the believer's life. ### Authority and Submission Ephesians 6 also addresses relationships characterized by authority and submission, such as those between children and parents, and slaves and masters. This theme of authority is consistent with the biblical emphasis on order and respect within human relationships, reflecting God’s design for harmony and mutual responsibility. Similar exhortations can be found in [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3|Colossians 3:18-25]] and [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 2|1 Peter 2:13-25]], where the call to submit to authority is paired with the call for those in authority to lead with justice and compassion. ### Prayer and Perseverance The call to prayer in Ephesians 6 highlights the importance of perseverance and spiritual vigilance. Prayer is depicted as a vital component of the believer's spiritual arsenal, empowering them to stand firm against spiritual forces. This theme is reinforced throughout Scripture, where prayer is shown as a powerful means of seeking God’s intervention and guidance, as in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 6|Daniel 6:10]], [[Acts/Acts Chapter 2|Acts 2:42]], and [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 4|Philippians 4:6-7]]. ### Unity in the Body of Christ The chapter, while focusing on spiritual warfare, implicitly ties back to the theme of unity in the body of #Christ, a recurring theme throughout the book of Ephesians. The collective call to stand firm against the schemes of the devil emphasizes the need for believers to support one another, reflecting the unity and interdependence described earlier in Ephesians 4. This connection to the body of Christ underscores the importance of community in the life of faith, as seen in passages like [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 12|1 Corinthians 12:12-27]] and [[Romans/Romans Chapter 12|Romans 12:4-8]]. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Armor of God In Ephesians 6, the Apostle #Paul speaks about the "Armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-17). This imagery fulfills the Old Testament prophecy concerning God's provision of spiritual strength and protection for His people. The concept of divine armor is reflected in the prophetic writings of [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 59|Isaiah 59:17]], where God is depicted as wearing righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on His head. By instructing believers to don this divine armor, Paul draws on Isaiah’s imagery to emphasize the fulfillment of God’s promise to equip His people for spiritual warfare. ### Victory over Spiritual Forces Paul's depiction of the spiritual battle against "the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12) reflects the fulfillment of earlier prophecies about God's ultimate victory over evil. This aligns with prophecies like those in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 10]] and [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 12]], which depict angelic battles and God's sovereignty over spiritual realms. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, believers are assured victory over these spiritual adversaries, fulfilling the prophetic vision of God's triumph over evil. ### The Role of Prayer The exhortation to pray in the Spirit on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18) reflects the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the outpouring of the Spirit and the role of prayer in God's redemptive plan. This aligns with prophecies such as [[Joel/Joel Chapter 2|Joel 2:28-29]], where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, leading to a deeper and more direct communion with Him. This call to constant, Spirit-led prayer fulfills the prophetic vision of a restored, intimate relationship between God and His people through the Holy Spirit. ## Verses - **Ephesians 6:1** - "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do." - See also [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3#Colossians 3:20]] for similar instructions to children. - **Ephesians 6:2** - "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise:" - Refer to [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 20#Exodus 20:12]] for the original commandment. - **Ephesians 6:3** - "If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.'" - See also [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 5#Deuteronomy 5:16]] for the promise attached to this commandment. - **Ephesians 6:4** - "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." - Similar guidance is given in [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3#Colossians 3:21]]. - **Ephesians 6:5** - "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ." - Also see [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3#Colossians 3:22]] for parallel instructions to slaves. - **Ephesians 6:6** - "Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart." - **Ephesians 6:7** - "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." - Refer to [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 3#Colossians 3:23]] for a similar exhortation. - **Ephesians 6:8** - "Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free." - **Ephesians 6:9** - "Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites." - Also see [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 4#Colossians 4:1]] for similar instructions to masters. - **Ephesians 6:10** - "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." - **Ephesians 6:11** - "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil." - Explore further in [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 6#Ephesians 6:13]] on the armor of God. - **Ephesians 6:12** - "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." - Refer to [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 10#2 Corinthians 10:3-4]] for spiritual warfare. - **Ephesians 6:13** - "Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." - See also [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 6#Ephesians 6:11]] for the introduction to the armor of God. - **Ephesians 6:14** - "Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness." - **Ephesians 6:15** - "For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared." - **Ephesians 6:16** - "In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil." - **Ephesians 6:17** - "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - **Ephesians 6:18** - "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." - See also [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 4#Philippians 4:6]] for instruction on prayer. - **Ephesians 6:19** - "And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike." - The mystery of the Gospel is also discussed in [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 3#Ephesians 3:6]]. - **Ephesians 6:20** - "I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should." - **Ephesians 6:21** - "To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work." - Tychicus is also mentioned in [[Colossians/Colossians Chapter 4#Colossians 4:7]]. - **Ephesians 6:22** - "I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you." - **Ephesians 6:23** - "Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness." - **Ephesians 6:24** - "May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ."