1 Children, do what your parents tell you, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment that has a promise attached: 3 “that things may go well for you and you may live a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, don't make your children mad, but look after them by disciplining them and instructing them about God. 5 Servants, obey those who are your human masters, with proper respect and awe, doing things from sincere motives as if you were serving Christ. 6 Don't just work well when you're being watched to gain approval, but work like servants of Christ, honestly doing God's will, 7 happily serving as if you were doing it for the Lord, and not for people. 8 You know that whoever does what's good will be rewarded by the Lord, whether that person is a servant or someone who is free. 9 Masters, you should treat your servants the same way. Don't threaten them, remember that the Lord in heaven is both their master and yours, and he treats people the same, without favoritism. 10 Lastly, stay strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor of God so you can withstand all the devil's attacks! 12 We're not fighting against human forces, but against supernatural rulers and powers, the dark lords of this world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 Take all the weapons God provides so that you may be able to stand your ground in the day of evil and after doing all you can, to find yourself still standing! 14 So stand up, wrap the belt of truth around your waist, tie on the breastplate of justice and the right, 15 and put on the shoes of readiness to share the good news of peace. 16 Above all, take up the shield of trusting God, by which you'll be able to put out all the devil's flaming arrows. 17 Wear the helmet of salvation, and carry the sword of the Spirit—the Spirit that's the word of God. 18 Always pray in the Spirit as you do all this. Stay awake and keep on praying for all God's people. 19 Pray for me too so that I'll be given the right words to say, and that I'll be able to explain confidently the hidden truths of the good news. 20 I'm an imprisoned ambassador for the sake of the good news, so please pray that I will speak fearlessly, as I should. 21 Tychicus, our good friend and faithful minister, will give you all my news and explain everything so you'll know how I'm doing. 22 That's why I'm sending him to you—to tell you what's happened to us and to encourage you. 23 Peace to all the Christians there, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, with love and trust in him. 24 Grace to all those who eternally love our Lord Jesus.
Ephesians · Free Bible Version
Ephesians 6 Free Bible Version
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)