Ephesians 6

Chapter Overview

What happens in Ephesians 6

Paul completes his household instructions with guidance for children, parents, servants, and masters. He then delivers the letter's climactic passage on spiritual warfare, describing the full armor of God that equips believers to stand against the devil's schemes, and closes with a request for prayer and final greetings.

Scripture

Instructions for Households

Study note

Paul continues the household code begun in chapter 5, addressing children and parents, then servants and masters. Children are to obey their parents as an act of obedience to the Lord, grounded in the fifth commandment with its promise of blessing. Fathers are warned against provoking anger in their children, instead nurturing them in the Lord's instruction. The instructions to servants and masters are revolutionary for the ancient world: all work is ultimately done for Christ, and earthly masters must remember that they share the same heavenly Master who shows no favoritism.

1 Children, do what your parents tell you to do, because this is what the Lord wants and it is the right thing. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 "Show honor to your father and mother" -- this is the first of God's commands that comes with a special promise: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 "Things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth." That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not push your children so hard that they become angry. Instead, raise them with the Lord's kind of training and teaching. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

5 Workers, obey the people in charge of you with respect and honesty. Do it as if you were obeying Christ himself. 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 Do not work hard when they are looking so you can impress them. Work like servants of Christ who are doing God's will with their whole heart. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 Do your work gladly, as though you were working for the Lord, not just for people. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Always remember this. The Lord will reward every person for the good they do. It does not matter what their position in life is. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

9 And those of you who are in charge, treat your workers the same way. Stop using threats. Remember that you and they share the same Master in heaven, and he does not have favorites. 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.

The Armor of God

Study note

Paul's famous passage on spiritual warfare makes clear that the Christian life is a battle, but not against human enemies. The struggle is against unseen spiritual forces of evil. Paul likely drew the armor imagery from both the Roman soldiers who guarded him in prison and from Isaiah's descriptions of God as a warrior. Each piece of armor represents a spiritual reality: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. Notably, all pieces are defensive except the sword of the Spirit (God's word), and the entire passage culminates not in fighting but in praying. Prayer 'at all times in the Spirit' (v. 18) is the atmosphere in which the armor is worn and the battle is fought.

10 Finally, my brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Finally, 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 schemes of the devil. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 This fight is not against people. We are fighting against invisible rulers and powerful forces of darkness. We fight against evil spiritual beings in the unseen world. 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 Therefore you must put on God's full armor. Then, when the day of evil hits, you will be able to fight back and still be standing when it is all over. 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 So stand your ground! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist. Strap the breastplate of right living over your chest. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 Lace up your feet with the readiness that comes from knowing the good news of peace. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Most important of all, pick up the shield of faith. It has the power to stop every flaming arrow the evil one fires at you. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 Put on the helmet of salvation to protect your head, and grip the sword of the Spirit in your hand, which is God's word. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Pray at every opportunity using every kind of prayer the Spirit leads you to pray. Stay sharp and alert, and never stop praying for all of God's people. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 Pray for me too! Ask God to give me the right words whenever I open my mouth, so I can boldly explain the mystery of the good news. 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 I am serving as an ambassador for this good news, even though I am in chains right now. Pray that I will speak as boldly as I should. For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings and Benediction

Study note

Paul commends Tychicus, the letter carrier, as a beloved brother who will update the Ephesians on Paul's situation and encourage them. The letter closes with a benediction of peace, love, faith, and grace, the same themes that have pervaded the entire epistle. The final phrase, 'an undying love,' captures the eternal quality of the relationship believers have with Christ.

21 Tychicus will give you a full update on how I am doing. He is my dear brother and faithful servant of the Lord. 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 That is the very reason I am sending him to you -- so you can find out how we are and so he can encourage you. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23 May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give peace, love, and faith to all the brothers and sisters. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 May God's grace be with everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that never dies. Amen. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Key Themes

Themes in Ephesians 6

Honoring parents and nurturing childrenWorking as unto the Lord in every vocationSpiritual warfare against unseen forcesThe full armor of GodThe centrality of prayer in the spiritual battleGrace and peace as bookends of the Christian life

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Ephesians 6:2-3 Exodus 20:12

Paul directly quotes the fifth commandment from the Decalogue about honoring father and mother, noting it is the first commandment accompanied by a specific promise of long life and blessing.

Ephesians 6:14 Isaiah 11:5

The belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness echo Isaiah's description of the coming Messiah, who would have righteousness as his belt and faithfulness as the sash around his waist.

Ephesians 6:14 Isaiah 59:17

Isaiah's depiction of God himself putting on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation as a divine warrior provides the foundational imagery Paul adapts for the believer's spiritual armor.

Ephesians 6:15 Isaiah 52:7

The feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace recalls Isaiah's beautiful vision of the messenger whose feet on the mountains bring good news of peace and salvation.

Ephesians 6:17 Isaiah 49:2

The sword of the Spirit as the word of God connects to Isaiah's servant song where God made the servant's mouth like a sharp sword, a weapon of divine truth.

Apply This Today

Living Ephesians 6

Spiritual warfare is real, but the armor God provides is sufficient. Notice that Paul does not tell you to manufacture your own defenses; each piece of armor is something God supplies. Your part is to put it on daily through faith, truth, righteousness, and immersion in God's word. Make prayer the constant backdrop of your life, not just a crisis response. And in your everyday roles, whether as parent, child, or worker, serve as though Christ himself is the one you are ultimately serving, because he is.

Go Deeper

Study Ephesians in Covenant Path

Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.

Download for iOS Download for Android

← Ephesians 6 →