Ephesians 6

Children, obey your parents as people who belong to the Lord, because this is the right thing to do.

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Note"In the Lord" can attach to the obeying (obey in a way that fits belonging to the Lord) or to the parents (obey your Christian parents). The Greek allows both, and the rendering keeps the looser sense.

2"Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment that comes with a promise attached to it.

2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

NoteVerses 2 and 3 quote the fifth of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. Calling it "the first commandment with promise" has puzzled readers since antiquity, since it is the fifth in order. It is the first one that attaches a stated reward, and some understand "first" instead as first in the group of commands about how to treat other people, or first in importance for a child.

3The promise is: "so that things will go well with you, and you will live a long life on the earth."

3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

NoteThe original commandment promised long life "in the land," meaning the territory God gave Israel. The Greek word can mean either "land" or "earth," and here the wording is left broad rather than tied to one country.

4Fathers, do not push your children until they are filled with anger. Instead, raise them with the training and correction that come from the Lord.

4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Note"Fathers" translates a Greek word that normally means fathers specifically, though its plural could cover parents generally. In a Roman household the father held legal authority over children, which is why the instruction is aimed at him. "Nurture and admonition" are two ordinary words for raising a child: the whole process of training and discipline, and correction given in words.

5Slaves, obey the people who are your masters here on earth. Do it with respect and deep seriousness, with an honest heart, just as you would obey Christ.

5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Note"Servants" in 1611 English covered slaves, and that is the meaning here: people legally owned by another. Roman household slavery was widespread and included educated workers, managers and craftsmen, not only field laborers. "Masters according to the flesh" means masters in the ordinary human sphere, as opposed to the heavenly Master named in verse 9. "Fear and trembling" was a stock phrase for serious respect, not terror.

6Do not work well only while they are watching, trying to look good to them. Work as servants of Christ, doing what God wants from your heart.

6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Note"Eyeservice" and "menpleasers" are compound words coined to translate the Greek. The first means work done only while the boss is looking; the second means someone whose aim is to impress people.

7Serve willingly and gladly, as if you were serving the Lord and not people.

7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8You know that the Lord will give back to each person whatever good that person does, whether he is a slave or a free man.

8Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Note"Bond or free" is a legal distinction, not a moral one: enslaved person or free citizen. These were the two basic categories of status in the Roman world.

9Masters, treat your slaves the same way. Stop threatening them. You know that the one who is Master of both them and you is in heaven, and he does not play favorites.

9And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Note"Forbearing threatening" means giving up the use of threats, which was a normal master's tool. "Respect of persons" is an old idiom for favoritism, treating someone better because of rank or wealth. It renders a Greek term built from a Hebrew phrase about lifting up a face, that is, showing partiality.

10Finally, my brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Note"Brethren" is a plural address to a whole congregation, men and women together, as "brothers and sisters" would be today.

11Put on the full set of armor that God gives, so that you can hold your ground against the devil's clever tricks.

11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Note"Whole armour" translates one Greek word, panoplia, the complete kit of a heavily armed foot soldier: belt, body armor, boots, shield, helmet, sword. Verses 14 to 17 name the pieces one at a time. "Wiles" means cunning schemes or tactics, not childish tricks.

12Our fight is not against human beings made of flesh and blood. It is against rulers, against authorities, against the powers that control this dark world, and against evil spiritual forces in the heavenly places.

12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Note"We wrestle" uses the language of hand to hand wrestling. "Principalities" and "powers" are not places or abilities but ranks of beings, roughly rulers and authorities. "Spiritual wickedness in high places" does not mean corruption among important people: the phrase is "in the heavenly places," the same expression used earlier in this letter for the unseen realm above, so it means evil spiritual forces operating there.

13So take up the full armor of God. Then, when the day of evil comes, you will be able to hold out, and after you have done everything, still be standing.

13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Note"The evil day" is left undefined in the Greek. It can mean a particular coming time of crisis or simply whatever day the attack arrives.

14So stand firm. Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and wear right living the way a soldier wears armor over his chest.

14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Note"Loins girt about" refers to the belt. Men wore long loose robes, and before work or a fight they pulled the hem up and tied it at the waist so their legs were free; a soldier's belt also carried the sword and held the armor in place. "Righteousness" here means being in the right and living rightly, not a feeling.

15On your feet, wear the readiness that comes from the good news of peace, the way a soldier wears his boots.

15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Note"Shod with the preparation" means having footwear on, so as to be ready. Roman military boots were heavy soles studded with hobnails, which gave a soldier grip so he could not be pushed off his footing.

16Along with all of this, take up faith as your shield. With it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows of the evil one.

16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Note"Fiery darts" are arrows with burning pitch or tow tied behind the head, used to set fire to what they struck. A large Roman shield was wood faced with leather, and the leather was soaked with water before battle so that such arrows went out on impact. "The wicked" here is singular, the evil one, meaning the devil named in verse 11.

17Take the helmet of salvation too, and the sword that the Spirit gives, which is the word of God.

17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

NoteThe sword named is the short stabbing sword of a foot soldier, a close combat weapon rather than a long cavalry blade. "The word of God" translates a Greek term for a spoken utterance, a thing said, rather than a written book.

18Pray at all times in the Spirit, with every kind of prayer and request. Stay alert about this, never giving up, and keep praying for all of God's people.

18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Note"Supplication" simply means a request or petition. "Saints" in this letter does not mean an elite group of holy people; it is the ordinary term for everyone who belongs to God, the whole membership of the churches.

19Pray for me too. Pray that when I open my mouth, God will give me the words to speak boldly and to make known the mystery of the good news.

19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Note"Mystery" does not mean a puzzle or something kept obscure. It translates a word for a secret that was hidden and has now been disclosed, so it points to something announced openly rather than withheld.

20I am an ambassador for that good news, and I am in chains. Pray that I will speak about it boldly, the way I ought to speak.

20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

NoteAn ambassador carried a ruler's message and was legally protected; being one "in bonds" is a deliberate contradiction. Paul is writing from custody, where a prisoner awaiting a hearing could be chained to a guard.

21Tychicus, a dear brother and a faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and how I am doing.

21But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

NoteTychicus is the man carrying the letter. Letters in this period had no postal service and traveled by a trusted courier, who would also deliver news by mouth and answer questions the letter did not cover.

22I am sending him to you for this very reason: so that you will know how we are doing, and so that he can encourage you.

22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love along with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24Grace be with everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that never dies. Amen.

24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Note"In sincerity" translates a Greek word meaning incorruptibility, something that does not decay or die. The grammar leaves it open whether it describes the love the readers have or the grace being wished on them, and whether it attaches to the loving or to the Lord who is loved.