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Ephesians 6

World English Bible

WEB

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 good 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. 19Pray for me, 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. 22I have sent him 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, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Ephesians Chapter 6 emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects the teachings of Christ, particularly in the context of relationships and spiritual warfare. The chapter begins with instructions for children to obey their parents, highlighting the commandment with a promise that it may go well with them and they may live long in the land (#Ephesians 6:1-3). Fathers are also instructed not to provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, promoting a nurturing family environment that honors God. This sets a foundation for understanding the Christian household as a microcosm of the Church, where love and respect are paramount.

The chapter then addresses the relationship between slaves and masters, urging slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity, as if serving Christ himself. Masters are reminded to treat their slaves justly and fairly, knowing that they too have a Master in heaven (#Ephesians 6:5-9). This mutual respect and accountability reflect the heart of the Gospel, which transcends social hierarchies.

Finally, Ephesians 6 culminates in a powerful exhortation to put on the full armor of God. Paul describes the spiritual battle that believers face against spiritual forces of evil, urging them to stand firm by equipping themselves with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (#Ephesians 6:10-17). This imagery serves as a reminder that Christians are called to be vigilant and prepared, relying on God's strength to withstand the challenges of life. The chapter concludes with a call to prayer and perseverance, emphasizing the importance of interceding for one another in the body of Christ (#Ephesians 6:18-20).

Study

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 20:12v2Exodus 20:12 commands honoring one's parents, which Paul reiterates in Ephesians 6:2-3, highlighting it as the first commandment with a promise.
  2. Deuteronomy 5:16v2Deuteronomy 5:16 commands honoring one's parents, which is reiterated in Ephesians 6:2-3 as the first commandment with a promise, emphasizing the importance of family and societal stability.
  3. Deuteronomy 6:6-7v4Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes teaching God's commandments to children, which is echoed in Ephesians 6:4 where fathers are instructed to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
  4. Deuteronomy 11:18-19v4Deuteronomy 11:18-19 instructs the Israelites to teach God's words to their children, a principle echoed in Ephesians 6:4, where fathers are encouraged to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord.
  5. 2 Chronicles 20:17v132 Chronicles 20:17 instructs to stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, paralleling Ephesians 6:13 which calls believers to stand firm in spiritual battles.
  6. Nehemiah 4:9v18Nehemiah 4:9 shows the people praying and setting a watch against their enemies, similar to Ephesians 6:18 where believers are encouraged to pray and be alert.
  7. Nehemiah 6:9v10Nehemiah prays for strength in the face of opposition, paralleling Paul's exhortation to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
  8. Psalms 5:12v16Psalm 5:12 speaks of God's favor as a shield, which is similar to Ephesians 6:16 where faith is described as a shield against evil.
  9. Psalms 149:6v17Psalm 149:6 mentions the high praises of God in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands, paralleling Ephesians 6:17 where the Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit.
  10. Proverbs 22:6v4Proverbs 22:6 advises training a child in the way they should go, which aligns with Ephesians 6:4's instruction for fathers to bring up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
  11. Isaiah 59:17v13Isaiah 59:17 describes God wearing righteousness as armor, which is echoed in Ephesians 6:13-17 where believers are called to put on the full armor of God.
  12. Daniel 10:13v12Daniel 10:13 mentions the prince of the Persian kingdom resisting the angel, which relates to Ephesians 6:12's description of spiritual warfare against rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
  13. 1 Corinthians 16:13v101 Corinthians 16:13 encourages believers to be watchful, stand firm in the faith, and be strong, which is echoed in Ephesians 6:10-18 with the call to put on the full armor of God.
  14. 2 Corinthians 2:11v112 Corinthians 2:11 warns against being outwitted by Satan, similar to Ephesians 6:11, which instructs believers to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes.
  15. 2 Corinthians 10:3v122 Corinthians 10:3 speaks of not waging war according to the flesh, which is further explained in Ephesians 6:12 as a spiritual battle against rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil.
  16. Colossians 4:3v19In Colossians 4:3, Paul requests prayer for an open door to proclaim the mystery of Christ, similar to his request in Ephesians 6:19-20, highlighting the need for divine assistance in evangelism.
  17. 1 Thessalonians 5:8v14Both passages discuss the armor of God, highlighting faith, love, and hope as spiritual armor for believers.
  18. 1 Timothy 3:4-5v41 Timothy 3:4-5 emphasizes the importance of managing one's household well as a qualification for church leadership, which is echoed in Ephesians 6:4 where fathers are instructed to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
  19. 2 Timothy 2:3v102 Timothy 2:3 calls believers to endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ, which is further elaborated in Ephesians 6:10-17 with the metaphor of the armor of God, emphasizing spiritual warfare and perseverance.
  20. Hebrews 4:12v17Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, which is paralleled in Ephesians 6:17 where the Word is described as the 'sword of the Spirit.'
  21. 1 Peter 5:8v111 Peter 5:8 warns believers to be sober-minded and watchful because the devil prowls like a roaring lion, which aligns with Ephesians 6:11's call to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes.

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