Ephesians Chapter 6 — The Armor of God and Family Duties
Paul provides instructions for family and work relationships before detailing the Armor of God necessary for standing firm in faith.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
3“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” ✡Deuteronomy 5:16
4You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men,
8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
9You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,
16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word*from the Greek “ῥῆμα” (rhema), which means “spoken word” of God;
18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
19Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
This verse establishes a foundational principle of family order and respect within a household.
Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
This is the core instruction for believers to prepare themselves for spiritual challenges and stay firm.
Ephesians 6:12
“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
It defines the nature of the believer's conflict as being spiritual rather than physical.
Chapter Summary
Ephesians Chapter 6 provides instructions for household relationships, calling children to honor and obey their parents and advising fathers to nurture their children without provocation. The chapter also addresses servants and masters, urging them to serve one another with sincerity as if serving Christ, emphasizing God's lack of partiality. The latter half contains the famous passage regarding the Armor of God. Paul encourages believers to be strong in the Lord's power, putting on spiritual tools such as the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit to withstand spiritual opposition. Paul concludes the letter by asking for prayers for his own boldness while in prison and introduces Tychicus, who will provide updates on his well-being. The chapter ends with a blessing of peace, love, and grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Armor of God includes several spiritual elements: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the preparation of the Good News of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
Tychicus is described as a beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord whom Paul sends to the Ephesians to update them on his situation and provide comfort.
Paul instructs fathers not to provoke their children to wrath but instead to nurture them using the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Paul asks for prayer that utterance may be given to him so that he can speak boldly and make known the mystery of the Good News, even while he is an ambassador in chains.
Study Note
The Greek word 'rhema' used for 'word' in verse 17 refers specifically to a spoken or uttered word rather than a written text.
Related Chapters
Galatians 5
Explores the fruit of the Spirit, which complements the spiritual preparation described in Ephesians 6.
Colossians 3
Contains parallel instructions regarding household relationships and family duties.
1 Thessalonians 5
Includes similar metaphors regarding spiritual alertness and putting on the breastplate of faith.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.