1Children, 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“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”⚓ 4Fathers,⚓ do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish 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. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23Peace to the brothers and sisters,⚓ and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.⚓
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Children and Parents
1Children, ⚓obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2⚓“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4And ⚓you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but ⚓bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5⚓Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, ⚓with fear and trembling, ⚓in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6⚓not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8⚓knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether heis a slave or free. 9And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own ⚓Master also is in heaven, and ⚓there is no partiality with Him.
The Whole Armor of God
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11⚓Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ⚓principalities, against powers, against ⚓the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13⚓Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ⚓in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, ⚓having girded your waist with truth, ⚓having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15⚓and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking ⚓the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And ⚓take the helmet of salvation, and ⚓the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18⚓praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, ⚓being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ⚓supplication for all the saints— 19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, ⚓that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which ⚓I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
A Gracious Greeting
21But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ⚓Tychicus, a beloved brother and ⚓faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22⚓whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ⚓comfort your hearts. 23Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.