The household under the Lord
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother” — this is the first commandment with a promise — 3“so that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4And you fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the singleness of your heart, as to the Christ; 6not with an eye to being seen, as those who court people’s favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, 7serving with good will, as to the Lord and not to people, 8knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive it back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9And you masters, do the same toward them. Let the threats go, knowing that their Master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no favoritism with him.
The full armor of God
10From now on, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty strength. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to hold your ground on the evil day, and, having done everything, to stand. 14Stand, then, with the belt of truth around your waist and the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16In all things take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at every moment, with every kind of prayer and petition; and to that end stay alert, with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19and for me: that when I open my mouth the word may be given me to make known, with boldness, the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains — that in it I may speak boldly, as I must speak.
Tychicus, and a final greeting
21So that you too may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose: that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 23Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that does not perish.
