Children and Parents
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord,w for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise*—3“so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.*
Slaves and Masters
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respectx and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,* 6not with a slavery performed merely for looks, to please people, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. 7Render service with enthusiasm, as for the Lord and not for humans, 8knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are enslaved or free.
9And, masters,y do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Lordz in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.*
The Whole Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; 11put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, 12for oura struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this presentb darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.c,* 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.* 14Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness* 15and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. 16With all of these,d take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.* 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.* 18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.* 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,e,* 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.*
Personal Matters and Benediction
21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.* 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.* 24Grace be with all who have an undying love forf our Lord Jesus Christ.g