aChildren, obey your parents in the Lord that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives, for this is right for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline.Prov 6:20; 23:22; Col 3:20 2 aHONOR esteem, value as precious YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER and be respectful to them—this is the first commandment with a promise—Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LONG LIFE ON THE EARTH. Ex 20:12
4 aFathers, do not provoke your children to anger do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them, but bbring them up tenderly, with lovingkindness in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.Col 3:21Gen 18:19; Deut 6:7; 11:19; Ps 78:4; Prov 22:6; 2 Tim 3:15
5 1aSlaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with brespect for authority, and with a sincere heart seeking to please them, cas service to Christ—Slavery was common in New Testament times (as well as in ancient Israel). One might become a slave through conquest, the commission of a crime, or destitution. Slaves were required to do their masters’ bidding and work without compensation (cf Luke 17:7-10). Elsewhere Paul advises slaves not to dwell on their circumstances, and to earn their freedom if they can (1 Cor 7:21). The admonitions here accurately reflect the slave/master relationship in the Roman Empire; since they were not compensated, slaves sometimes did only what they had to do to avoid punishment, and masters could be cruel disciplinarians.Col 3:22; 1 Tim 6:1; Titus 2:91 Cor 2:3Eph 5:22 6 anot in the way of eye-service working only when someone is watching you and only to bplease men, but as cslaves of Christ, ddoing the will of God from your heart;Col 3:22Gal 1:101 Cor 7:22Mark 3:35 7 rendering service with goodwill, aas to the Lord, and not only to men,Col 3:23 8 aknowing that bwhatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, cwhether he is slave or free.Col 3:24Matt 16:27; 2 Cor 5:10; Col 3:24f1 Cor 12:13; Col 3:11
9 You masters, do the same showing goodwill toward them, and agive up threatening and abusive words, knowing that He who is bboth their true Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is cno partiality with Him regardless of one’s earthly status.Lev 25:43Job 31:13ff; John 13:13; Col 4:1Deut 10:17; Acts 10:34; Col 3:25
10 In conclusion, abe strong in the Lord draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him and in bthe power of His boundless might.1 Cor 16:13; 2 Tim 2:1Eph 1:19 11 aPut on the full armor of God for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier, so that you may be able to successfully stand up against all the bschemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.Rom 13:12; Eph 6:13Eph 4:14 12 For our astruggle is not against bflesh and blood contending only with physical opponents, but cagainst the rulers, against the powers, against the dworld forces of this present edarkness, against the fspiritual forces of wickedness in gthe heavenly places.1 Cor 9:25Matt 16:17Eph 1:21; 2:2; 3:10John 12:31Acts 26:18; Col 1:13Eph 3:10Eph 1:3 13 Therefore, put on athe complete armor of God, so that you will be able to successfully bresist and stand your ground in cthe evil day of danger, and having done everything that the crisis demands, to stand firm in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious.Eph 6:11James 4:7Eph 5:16 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, aHAVING 1TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING bPUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS , Is 11:5Lit girded your loins, a phrase often found in the Bible, is an urgent call to get ready for immediate action or a coming event. The phrase is related to the type of clothing worn in ancient times. Before any vigorous activity the loose ends of clothing (tunics, cloaks, mantles, etc.) had to be gathered up and tucked into the wide band worn around the midsection of the body. The band (usually about six inches wide) also served as a kind of pocket or pouch to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things. Gird up your mind or gird up your heart are examples of variants of this phrase and call for mental or spiritual preparation for a coming challenge.Is 11:5; Luke 12:35; 1 Pet 1:13Is 59:17; Rom 13:12; Eph 6:13; 1 Thess 5:8 15 and having 1astrapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news. Is 52:7A reference to the Roman soldiers’ shoes which were studded with hobnails to give them stability on the battlefield.Is 52:7; Rom 10:15 16 Above all, lift up the protective 1ashield of faith with which you can extinguish all the bflaming arrows of cthe evil one.Here the Greek word refers to the large Roman soldiers’ shield designed to protect the entire body. It had an iron frame and was covered in several layers of leather. When soaked in water before a battle the shield could put out the fiery missiles thrown at them by the enemy.1 Thess 5:8Ps 7:13; 120:4Matt 5:37 17 And take aTHE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the bsword of the Spirit, which is cthe Word of God. Is 59:17Is 59:17Is 49:2; Hos 6:5; Heb 4:12Eph 5:26; Heb 6:5
18 With all aprayer and petition bpray with specific requests at all times on every occasion and in every season cin the Spirit, and with this in view, dstay alert with all eperseverance and fpetition interceding in prayer for all 1God’s people.Lit the saints.Phil 4:6Luke 18:1; Col 1:3; 4:2; 1 Thess 5:17Rom 8:26fMark 13:33Acts 1:141 Tim 2:1 19 And apray for me, that words may be given to me bwhen I open my mouth, to proclaim cboldly dthe mystery of the good news of salvation,Col 4:3; 1 Thess 5:252 Cor 6:112 Cor 3:12Eph 3:3 20 for which I am an aambassador bin chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak cboldly and courageously, das I should.2 Cor 5:20; Philem 9 mgActs 21:33; 28:20; Eph 3:1; Phil 1:7; Col 4:32 Cor 3:12Col 4:4
21 aNow, so that you may know how I am and what I am doing, bTychicus, cthe beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.Eph 6:21, 22: <IT>Col 4:7-9</IT>Acts 20:4; 2 Tim 4:12Col 4:7 22 aI have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and that he may bcomfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts.Col 4:8Col 2:2; 4:8
23 aPeace be to the 1brothers and sisters, and blove joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Lit brethren.Rom 15:33; Gal 6:16; 2 Thess 3:16; 1 Pet 5:14Gal 5:6; 1 Thess 5:8 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible love.