Passage Explorer

Ephesians 6

Setting the scene
Who wrote it
Paul (debated)
Who it was for
Believers in Ephesus and nearby churches
What was happening
Children, parents, slaves, and masters, then the whole armor of God and a last word from Tychicus
Read the full background in the book overview

What’s happening

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with a promise: 'that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.'" Fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves are to obey their masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ, not by way of eye-service as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters are to do the same toward their slaves, giving up threatening, knowing that both their Master and theirs is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. Finally: "Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all seasons in the Spirit, being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints, and for Paul, that utterance may be given to him in opening his mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, for which he is an ambassador in chains, that he may speak boldly as he ought. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to them all things, and Paul has sent him that they may know how things are with him and that he may comfort their hearts. "Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen."

Why the setting matters

The household codes end with children, parents, slaves, and masters. In the Roman world, a father had nearly absolute power over his household, and slaves were property. Paul tells children to obey and fathers to avoid provoking them, tells slaves to serve as people who serve Christ, and tells masters to stop threatening and treat slaves as people who share the same Master; he does not call for ending slavery, but he places masters and slaves on the same level before Christ, and the effect of that is a matter of ongoing discussion. The armor passage draws on Isaiah 59:17 and on the equipment of a Roman soldier; Paul was chained to a soldier as he wrote (Acts 28:16, 28:20), so the image was in front of him. The armor is defensive, apart from the sword, and the enemy is "the schemes of the devil," not people ("flesh and blood"). The powers "in the heavenly places" connect back to 1:21 and 3:10, where Christ is far above them. Tychicus is also named in Colossians 4:7-8 and Acts 20:4, and carrying the letter was how it reached its readers. The letter ends on grace and "incorruptible love," echoing its themes.

Read Ephesians 6 (World English Bible)

Who’s in this chapter

Paul

"An ambassador in chains," asking for prayer.

Tychicus

Carries the letter and brings news.

Children

Told to obey their parents in the Lord.

Fathers

Told not to provoke their children.

Slaves

Told to serve as slaves of Christ.

Masters

Told to stop threatening, since they share a Master in heaven.

The rulers and powers

The spiritual forces believers stand against.

Talk it through

  1. Paul speaks to children and slaves as people who can respond to Christ. What does it say that he speaks to them directly?
  2. The armor is mostly defensive. What does that suggest about how believers face spiritual opposition?
  3. "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood." How does that change how you see difficult people?
  4. Paul asks for prayer to speak boldly, though he is in chains. What does that tell you about what he wanted?

Read Ephesians 6

World English Bible

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: 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. 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.

Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources