Ephesians Chapter 6 is the final chapter of this epistle of Paul. There are three main themes in it, including harmony with the family, guidelines for slaves and masters, and fighting against evil.
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Walking in Familial Harmony
In Chapter 6 of Ephesians, Paul began by urging believers to be in harmony with their own family. For instance, children were urged to follow the commandment of obeying their parents in the Lord. Paul stated that this was the first commandment with a promise, which says that honoring one’s mother and father will lead to a happy and long life.
In addition, Paul also instructed father to refrain from provoking their children’s wrath. Fathers were to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Harmony between Servants and Masters
Many of the households in the first few centuries had servants. As a result, Paul addressed this topic frequently in his letters. He always instructed servants to be obedient to their masters and to do the will of God from their hearts.
Paul also told the masters to treat their servants with respect. He warned against threatening them because those earthly masters also have a Master in Heaven who is watching them.
Fighting against Evil
Toward the end of Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul urged the church at Ephesus to stand strong in the Lord’s power. He said to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand strong against the deceptions of the devil.
Believers do not fight against the devil with flesh and blood, but against the principalities and the powers of darkness and the hosts of spiritual wickedness. Paul also stressed the need for believers to adorn themselves with elements like prayer, the Gospel, salvation, righteousness and God’s mighty Word. He said to pray for each other to give strength against the evil deeds of the world.
Paul’s Closing Remarks
Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians by saying he was sending a helper named Tychicus to them. He would give them a report about what Paul was doing. He ends the epistle with a prayer for them to receive faith, peace, and grace for everyone who love Jesus.
Ephesians 6 (King James Version)
1 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.