1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. 2 Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth. 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Do not serve only when seen, as if to please men, but act as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord, and not to men. 8 For you know that whatever good each one will do, the same will he receive from the Lord, whether he is servant or free. 9 And you, lords, act similarly toward them, setting aside threats, knowing that the Lord of both you and them is in heaven. For with him there is no favoritism toward anyone. 10 Concerning the rest, brothers, be strengthened in the Lord, by the power of his virtue. 11 Be clothed in the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the treachery of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. 13 Because of this, take up the armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand the evil day and remain perfect in all things. 14 Therefore, stand firm, having been girded about your waist with truth, and having been clothed with the breastplate of justice, 15 and having feet which have been shod by the preparation of the Gospel of peace. 16 In all things, take up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. 17 And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). 18 Through every kind of prayer and supplication, pray at all times in spirit, and so be vigilant with every kind of earnest supplication, for all the saints, 19 and also for me, so that words may be given to me, as I open my mouth with faith to make known the mystery of the Gospel, 20 in such a manner that I may dare to speak exactly as I ought to speak. For I act as an ambassador in chains for the Gospel. 21 Now, so that you also may know the things that concern me and what I am doing, Tychicus, a most beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will make known everything to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very reason, so that you may know the things that concern us, and so that he may console your hearts. 23 Peace to the brothers, and charity with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ, unto incorruption. Amen.
Ephesians · Catholic Public Domain Version
Ephesians 6 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
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)