BOOK 49 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

Ephesians 6

Ephesians book home•Chapter 6 of 6•24 verses

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Ephesians 6 Overview

Paul continues household instruction with children and parents, servants and masters, placing every relationship under the Lord’s authority and warning masters that there is no partiality with Him. He then calls believers to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armour of God against spiritual wickedness, ending with prayer and Tychicus’s ministry.

EphesiansBook

6Chapter

24Verses

Pauline EpistlesDivision

Before you read Ephesians 6

Coming from

Paul calls believers to walk in love as Christ loved them, to reject sexual uncleanness and covetousness, and to walk as children of light. They must walk wisely, redeem the time, be filled with the Spirit, and express that fullness through worship, thanksgiving, and ordered relationships. Marriage is then explained through Christ and the church.

In this chapter

Leads into

The canonical sequence continues into Philippians.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The servant/master instructions address real first-century social structures without declaring human ownership morally ideal. Paul places both under one heavenly Master and strips earthly masters of ultimate status.

The armour is God’s provision for standing in spiritual conflict; it is not magical wording but truth, righteousness, gospel readiness, faith, salvation, Scripture, and prayer.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Authority relationships are accountable to Christ

Parents and masters are not autonomous; the same Lord judges them.

Spiritual conflict requires God’s strength

Believers are told to stand in the Lord’s might, not self-confidence.

Truth and prayer belong together in warfare

The armour culminates not in bravado but in persistent prayer.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 20:12

Paul quotes the command to honor father and mother.

Isaiah 59:17

Divine-warrior armour imagery in Isaiah stands behind Paul’s breastplate and helmet language.

1 Peter 5:8–9

Peter likewise tells believers to resist the devil steadfast in faith.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use the servant/master passage to defend abuse or racialized slavery

Paul subjects both parties to Christ and denies partiality to earthly masters.

Do not turn the armour into superstition

Each piece names spiritual realities believers are to live in.

Do not focus on demons while neglecting ordinary obedience

The same chapter joins warfare with family, work, truth, righteousness, and prayer.

Read Ephesians 6 watching for…

Commands to children, fathers, servants, and masters.

The source of the believer’s strength.

The repeated command to stand.

Each piece of armour.

The role of prayer after the armour list.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-4Children are to obey and honor parents, and fathers are to raise children in the nurture of the Lord 5-9Servants and masters are instructed to serve and act as unto the Lord 10-20Believers are told to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God 21-24Tychicus is sent with news and encouragement, and Paul closes with peace, love, faith, and grace

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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;

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

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.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

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.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

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,

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

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:

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. <<Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.>>

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Ephesians 6:1

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