1 Children, 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 go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should. 21 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Ephesians · Berean Standard Bible
Ephesians 6 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Tychicus
A man from Asia who traveled with Paul; Paul calls him a beloved brother and faithful servant and sent him with letters to Ephesus, Colossae, and elsewhere.
Cited in the guide: Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7
Cross references (24)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 3:20–25; Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 6:20; Colossians 3:16–17; Proverbs 1:8
- 2 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 27:16; Matthew 15:4–6; Proverbs 20:20; Ezekiel 22:7
- 3 Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 12:25; Deuteronomy 6:3
- 4 Colossians 3:21; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:7
- 5 1 Peter 2:18–21; Titus 2:9–10; Colossians 3:17–24; Psalm 86:11; Ephesians 5:22
- 6 Colossians 3:22–23; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 5:17; 1 Peter 4:2
- 7 Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 6:5–6; 2 Kings 5:13; Genesis 31:38–40
- 8 Colossians 3:24; Luke 14:14; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:10
- 9 Colossians 3:25–4:1; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Job 31:13–15; Deuteronomy 10:17
- 10 Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 40:31; Joshua 1:9; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:10
- 11 2 Corinthians 10:4; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Peter 5:8
- 12 Colossians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 2:15; Acts 26:18
- 13 2 Corinthians 10:4; Luke 21:36; Ephesians 6:11–17; Ephesians 5:16; Revelation 3:10
- 14 Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Isaiah 11:5; Luke 12:35; 2 Corinthians 6:7
- 15 Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Habakkuk 3:19; Luke 15:22
- 16 1 Peter 5:8–9; 1 John 5:4–5; Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 56:3–4; Genesis 15:1
- 17 Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 59:17; Revelation 19:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Isaiah 49:2
- 18 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1; Jude 20
- 19 Colossians 4:3; Acts 4:29; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Hebrews 13:18
- 20 2 Corinthians 5:20; Colossians 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 John 3:16
- 21 Acts 20:4; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12; Colossians 4:7–9; 1 Timothy 4:6
- 22 Philippians 2:25; Colossians 4:7–8; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; Colossians 2:2; Philippians 2:19
- 23 Galatians 6:16; Galatians 5:6; 1 Peter 5:14; 1 Timothy 1:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:16
- 24 Matthew 22:37; Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 16:22–23; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:15
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
As a man in forming a body, places the head first, after that the neck, then the feet, so does the blessed Paul proceed in his discourse. He has spoken of the husband, he has spoken of the wife, who is second in authority, he now goes on by gradual advances to the third rank--which is that of children.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
For we hear also of the shield of faith, "wherewith," says the apostle, "ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Nor ought we, on the other hand, in regard to spiritual armor of this kind to assign faith to the shield only; for we read in another place of the breastplate of faith: "putting …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Yes, for a grievous conflict is at hand, and against the powers unseen is our wrestling; against "the spiritual wickednesses" our fight, "against principalities, against powers" our warfare: and it is well for us, if when we are earnest and sober and thoroughly awakened, we can be able to sustain that savage phalanx.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… watch not; but, since the enemy is unseen, we have faith as our strong armour, according to the saying of the Apostle, In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… true, says, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." But in a phrase of this kind there is no suggestion of any lowly and subordinate ministry, but rather of the succour rendered "in the power of his might." For He Himself has bound the strong man and spoiled his goods, that is, us …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)