Ephesians · chapter 6 of 6
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Ephesians 6 gives instructions for life at home and at work: children honor their parents, fathers bring up their children in the discipline of the Lord, and slaves and masters serve with integrity because they have the same Lord. It then calls believers to be strong in the Lord and put on the armor of God to resist the spiritual forces of evil. It ends with a request for prayer and a farewell.
Ephesians 6 closes the letter with the last relationships of Christian life and a powerful image: the armor of God. After describing the unity of the church and the new life, Paul reminds us that the Christian path faces a spiritual struggle and that God supplies everything needed to resist.
Paul addresses children first: they must obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right, and honor their father and mother, the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with them and they may live long in the land. He asks fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Then he speaks to slaves: they must obey their earthly masters with respect and sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not only when they are watched but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart, knowing that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does. To masters he says to do the same toward them, giving up threats, because the Master of both is in heaven and shows no partiality.
Paul concludes with a call: be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. With the whole armor they will be able to withstand in the evil day and, having done all, to stand firm.
Paul describes the pieces: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the readiness given by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith with which to extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. He adds praying at all times in the Spirit with all perseverance, for all the saints and also for him, that he may boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which he is an ambassador in chains. Finally he sends Tychicus to inform and encourage them, and he closes with peace, love with faith and grace for all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Fathers must not provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. A father's authority exists to guide children lovingly toward Christ, not to impose itself harshly.
Paul calls us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil. Strength does not come from ourselves but from our position in Christ.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers of evil. It helps us not to see people as enemies and to recognize that a real spiritual battle exists.
Paul asks for prayer at all times in the Spirit, with perseverance and for all the saints. Prayer ties all the pieces of the armor together and keeps us depending on God.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and you may live long in the land. — Ephesians 6:2-3
Answer: Not provoke them to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. — Ephesians 6:4
Answer: Because the Master of both is in heaven and shows no partiality. — Ephesians 6:9
Answer: Not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil. — Ephesians 6:12
Answer: The word of God. — Ephesians 6:17
Answer: That he may boldly make known the mystery of the gospel when he speaks. — Ephesians 6:19-20
Ephesians 6 joins the home and the battlefield. The spiritual life is not lived only in moments of worship: it is at stake in how children treat their parents, how parents train, how we work. In a small group you can talk about what changes if we do our daily work as for the Lord and not to please people.
The armor invites a personal check: which pieces do we neglect? Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word are not accessories but the way to resist. A class can spend time praying for one another, as Paul asks, knowing that no one stands alone.
Ephesians 6 ends the letter by reminding us that life in Christ is lived at home, at work and in the spiritual struggle, always with prayer. Paul says farewell with God's peace and grace for those who love the Lord with an undying love.
Paul writes in a society where slavery existed and he neither defends nor praises it, but he sets out principles that undermine it: the master has the same Lord, must give up threats and there is no partiality. Those principles lead to seeing each person with equal dignity before God.
No. Paul uses the image of the Roman soldier as a figure to describe spiritual resources: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation and the word of God. The image teaches that God provides what is needed to resist, and that it must be used every day.
Tychicus was a co-worker of Paul who carried this letter and would give news of the apostle. Paul calls him a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, and he mentions him also in Colossians and other letters as a trusted messenger.