Bible Gateway passage: Ephesians 6 - New International Version (2024)

6Children, 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)

⁴Fathers,^[b] do not exasperate your children;^(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^(D)

⁵Slaves, 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. ⁷Serve 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.

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^(K) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(L) with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, 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. ¹²For 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. ¹⁴Stand 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)

¹⁸And 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. ¹⁹Pray 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, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador^(AJ) in chains.^(AK) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹Tychicus,^(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. ²²I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(AM) and that he may encourage you.^(AN)

²³Peace^(AO) to the brothers and sisters,^[c] 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.^[d]

Footnotes

1. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
2. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
3. Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
4. Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cross references

1. Ephesians 6:1 : Pr 6:20; Col 3:20
2. Ephesians 6:3 : Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16
3. Ephesians 6:4 : Col 3:21
4. Ephesians 6:4 : Ge 18:19; Dt 6:7; Pr 13:24; 22:6
5. Ephesians 6:5 : 1Ti 6:1; Tit 2:9; 1Pe 2:18
6. Ephesians 6:5 : Col 3:22
7. Ephesians 6:5 : Eph 5:22
8. Ephesians 6:6 : S Ro 6:22
9. Ephesians 6:7 : Col 3:23
10. Ephesians 6:8 : S Mt 16:27; Col 3:24
11. Ephesians 6:9 : Job 31:13, 14
12. Ephesians 6:9 : S Ac 10:34
13. Ephesians 6:10 : 2Sa 10:12; Ps 27:14; Hag 2:4; 1Co 16:13; 2Ti 2:1
14. Ephesians 6:10 : Eph 1:19
15. Ephesians 6:11 : ver 13; Ro 13:12; 1Th 5:8
16. Ephesians 6:12 : 1Co 15:50; Heb 2:14
17. Ephesians 6:12 : Eph 1:21; 3:10
18. Ephesians 6:12 : Ro 8:38
19. Ephesians 6:12 : S Eph 1:3
20. Ephesians 6:13 : ver 11; S 2Co 6:7
21. Ephesians 6:14 : Isa 11:5
22. Ephesians 6:14 : Ps 132:9; Isa 59:17; 1Th 5:8
23. Ephesians 6:15 : Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15
24. Ephesians 6:16 : 1Jn 5:4
25. Ephesians 6:16 : S Mt 5:37
26. Ephesians 6:17 : Isa 59:17
27. Ephesians 6:17 : Isa 49:2
28. Ephesians 6:17 : S Heb 4:12
29. Ephesians 6:18 : Ro 8:26, 27
30. Ephesians 6:18 : S Lk 18:1
31. Ephesians 6:18 : Mt 26:41; Php 1:4; 4:6
32. Ephesians 6:18 : S Ac 1:14; Col 1:3
33. Ephesians 6:19 : S 1Th 5:25
34. Ephesians 6:19 : S Ac 4:29
35. Ephesians 6:19 : S Ro 16:25
36. Ephesians 6:20 : 2Co 5:20
37. Ephesians 6:20 : S Ac 21:33
38. Ephesians 6:21 : S Ac 20:4
39. Ephesians 6:22 : Col 4:7-9
40. Ephesians 6:22 : Col 2:2; 4:8
41. Ephesians 6:23 : Gal 6:16; 2Th 3:16; 1Pe 5:14