How children should behave toward their fathers and mothers; likewise fathers toward their children, servants toward their masters, and masters toward their servants. An exhortation to the spiritual battle, and what weapons Christians should fight with.

6 Children, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lord, for this is right. ² Honour your father and mother (which is the first commandment that has any promise with it), ³ so that you may prosper and live long on the earth. ⁴ And ye fathers, do not move your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

⁵ Servants, be obedient to your carnal masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ – ⁶ not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will: ⁷ serving the Lord, and not men. ⁸ And remember, whatever good thing anyone does, that he will receive back again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

⁹ And ye masters, do the same toward your servants, putting away threatenings. And remember that even your master also is in heaven; neither is there any respect of person with him.

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the armour of God so that you are able to stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rule, against power; namely against the rulers of the world, of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness, for heavenly things. ¹³ So then, take up the armour of God, so that you are able to resist in the evil day, and to stand perfect in all things.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and shod with shoes prepared by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ Above all, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray always with every sort of prayer and supplication, and that in the Spirit. And keep vigil also with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – ¹⁹ and for me: that utterance may be given to me; that I may open my mouth boldly to utter the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am a messenger in bonds; that I may speak freely therein as I ought to speak.

²¹ But so that you may also know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything, ²² whom I sent to you for this same purpose: so that you could know what circumstances I stand in, and so that he could comfort your hearts.

²³ Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in pureness. Amen.

Sent from Rome to the Ephesians
by the hand of
Tychicus.