6 You who are children, obey your parents. Because you belong to the Lord, that is the right thing to do. 2 God's Law says: ‘Always respect your father and your mother.’ That is the first rule of God's Law that also has a promise. 3 The promise is this: ‘As a result, you will be happy and you will live for a long time on the earth.’ [ a ]
4 Fathers, do not do things that make your children angry. Instead, teach them carefully as they grow up. Help them to understand the message of the Lord, and help them to obey it.
5 You who are slaves, obey your human masters. Respect them and be afraid of them. Work well to help them, as if you were working for Christ as your master. 6 Do not do good work only when they can see you. Some people only work to make other people like them. Instead, work well all the time, as slaves who serve Christ. Work in the way that God wants you to work. 7 Be happy to obey your human masters. Remember that you are serving the Lord himself, not just other people. 8 You know that anyone who does some good thing will receive a good gift from the Lord. This will happen whether that person is a slave or a free person.
9 You who are masters, be good to your slaves in the same way. Do not frighten them with punishment. Remember that both you and your slaves have the same Master in heaven. And he is always fair when he judges people, whoever they are.
10 At the end of my letter, I want to say this to you: Be united with the Lord, so that you are strong. Then his great power will help you. 11 Use all the help that God gives to us. Then you can be like a soldier who fights against the Devil. You must put on the whole armour that God gives to us. The Devil attacks us in clever ways, and we need to be strong. 12 We are not fighting against human enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the rulers and the powerful spirits that have authority over this dark world. We are fighting against the bad spirits who live in the heavens.
13 Because of that, take all the help that God gives, like it is your armour. Then, when the bad time comes, you will be able to stand strongly. You will not fall. After you have finished everything, you will still be standing strongly in your place.
14 So you must stand strongly. This is God's armour that you must wear: God's true message will be like a belt that you tie round your body. [ b ] Always do what is right. That will be like a metal shirt that you wear to keep your body safe. 15 Be prepared to tell people the good news about peace with God. That will be like shoes on your feet. 16 As well as all that, have faith to trust God. That will be like a shield that you hold in front of you. It will stop the Devil from hurting you with his arrows that burn with fire. [ c ] 17 Remember that God has saved you from your sins. That will be like a strong hat that keeps your head safe. Also, use God's message to help you. That will be like a sword that God's Spirit puts in your hand.
18 As you stand strongly like that, always pray for God's help. Pray about everything as God's Spirit helps you to pray. For this purpose, watch carefully all the time. Also, continue to pray for all God's people everywhere.
19 Please pray for me, too. Pray that God will give me the right message to speak. Pray that I will not be afraid to tell people about God's good news. Pray that I can explain God's secret to them. 20 God has sent me to tell people the good news on his behalf. And that is why I am now in prison. So pray that I will speak God's message bravely, as I ought to speak it.
21 My Christian friend, Tychicus, will tell you all the news about me. He works hard as the Lord's servant. He will tell you about what is happening here. Then you will know what I am doing and how I am. 22 That is the reason why I am sending him to you. I want him to tell you what is happening to us here, so that you will feel stronger.
23 I pray that God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be good to you who are believers. I pray that you will have peace in your minds. I pray that you will love one another, as you continue to trust Christ. 24 I pray that God will be very kind to everyone who continues to love our Lord Jesus Christ.
6 Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. 2 The command says, “You must respect your father and mother.” [ a ] This is the first command that has a promise with it. 3 And this is the promise: “Then all will go well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” [ b ]
4 Fathers, don’t make your children angry, but raise them with the kind of teaching and training you learn from the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect. And do this with a heart that is true, just as you obey Christ. 6 You must do this not just to please your masters while they are watching, but all the time. Since you are really slaves of Christ, you must do with all your heart what God wants. 7 Do your work, and be happy to do it. Work as though it is the Lord you are serving, not just an earthly master. 8 Remember that the Lord will give everyone a reward for doing good. Everyone, slave or free, will get a reward for the good things they do.
9 Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Don’t say things to scare them. You know that the one who is your Master and their Master is in heaven, and he treats everyone the same.
10 To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. 13 That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.
14 So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. 15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. 16 And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One. 17 Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.
19 Also pray for me—that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth about the Good News without fear. 20 I have the work of speaking for that Good News, and that is what I am doing now, here in prison. Pray that when I tell people the Good News, I will speak without fear as I should.
21 I am sending you Tychicus, the brother we love. He is a faithful servant of the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing. 22 That’s why I am sending him—to let you know how we are and to encourage you.
23 I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace and love with faith to all the brothers and sisters there. 24 God’s grace to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love that never ends.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And 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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
6 ( A ) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ( B ) Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth .
4 ( C ) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ( D ) bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 ( E ) Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [ a ] masters according to the flesh, with ( F ) fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ( G ) as to Christ; 6 ( H ) not [ b ] by way of [ c ] eye-service, as ( I ) people-pleasers, but as ( J ) slaves of Christ, ( K ) doing the will of God from the [ d ] heart. 7 With goodwill [ e ] render service, ( L ) as to the Lord, and not to people, 8 ( M ) knowing that ( N ) whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, ( O ) whether slave or free.
9 And masters, do the same things to them, and ( P ) give up threatening, knowing that ( Q ) both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ( R ) no partiality with Him.
10 Finally, ( S ) be strong in the Lord and in ( T ) the strength of His might. 11 ( U ) Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ( V ) schemes of the devil. 12 For our ( W ) struggle is not against [ f ] ( X ) flesh and blood, but ( Y ) against the rulers, against the powers, against the ( Z ) world forces of this ( AA ) darkness, against the ( AB ) spiritual forces of wickedness in ( AC ) the heavenly places . 13 Therefore, take up ( AD ) the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ( AE ) resist on ( AF ) the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, ( AG ) having belted your waist with truth, and having ( AH ) put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having ( AI ) strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [ g ] in addition to all, taking up the ( AJ ) shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ( AK ) flaming arrows of ( AL ) the evil one . 17 And take ( AM ) the helmet of salvation and the ( AN ) sword of the Spirit, which is ( AO ) the word of God.
18 [ h ] With every ( AP ) prayer and request, [ i ] ( AQ ) pray at all times ( AR ) in the Spirit, and with this in view, [ j ] ( AS ) be alert with all ( AT ) perseverance and every ( AU ) request for all the [ k ] saints, 19 and ( AV ) pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me ( AW ) in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ( AX ) boldness ( AY ) the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ( AZ ) ambassador ( BA ) in [ l ] chains; that [ m ] in proclaiming it I may speak ( BB ) boldly, ( BC ) as I ought to speak.
21 ( BD ) Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [ n ] what I am doing, ( BE ) Tychicus, ( BF ) the beloved brother and faithful [ o ] servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [ p ] ( BG ) I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [ q ] about us, and that he may ( BH ) comfort your hearts.
23 ( BI ) Peace be to the brothers and sisters , and ( BJ ) love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [ r ] with incorruptible love .
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ( A ) 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.” [ a ] ( B )
4 Fathers, [ b ] do not exasperate your children; ( C ) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. ( D )
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect ( E ) and fear, and with sincerity of heart, ( F ) just as you would obey Christ. ( G ) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, ( H ) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ( I ) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, ( J ) whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours ( K ) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism ( L ) with him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord ( M ) and in his mighty power. ( N ) 11 Put on the full armor of God, ( O ) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, ( P ) but against the rulers, against the authorities, ( Q ) against the powers ( R ) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ( S ) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, ( T ) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, ( U ) with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ( V ) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ( W ) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, ( X ) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ( Y ) 17 Take the helmet of salvation ( Z ) and the sword of the Spirit, ( AA ) which is the word of God. ( AB )
18 And pray in the Spirit ( AC ) on all occasions ( AD ) with all kinds of prayers and requests. ( AE ) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying ( AF ) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, ( AG ) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly ( AH ) make known the mystery ( AI ) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador ( AJ ) in chains. ( AK ) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
21 Tychicus, ( AL ) 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. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, ( AM ) and that he may encourage you. ( AN )
23 Peace ( AO ) to the brothers and sisters, [ c ] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. [ d ]
