Ephesians 6

What Ephesians 6 means

Ephesians 6 finishes a section on households that began in chapter 5. Children are told to obey their parents in the Lord, and Paul notes that honoring father and mother is "the first commandment with promise" (verse 2). Fathers in turn are told not to provoke their children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Verses 5-9 speak to servants and masters. Servants are to work sincerely, as if serving Christ, not just when someone is watching. Masters are to treat their servants the same way and stop threatening them, remembering that they also have a Master in heaven who shows no favoritism.

From verse 10 Paul turns to the struggle every believer faces. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." The real fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers of darkness. So believers are to take up the whole armour of God, so that after doing everything they can, they are still standing.

The armour is described piece by piece: loins girt about with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith that quenches the fiery darts of the wicked, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Most of the pieces are for defense; the sword is the one named weapon.

Prayer runs straight on from the armour. Paul asks the Ephesians to pray always for all saints, and also for him, that he would speak the gospel boldly. He calls himself "an ambassador in bonds" because he was writing as a prisoner. He sends Tychicus to tell them his news and closes with peace, love, faith and grace.

Background and context

Paul names himself as the writer in Ephesians 1:1. He wrote as a prisoner (Ephesians 3:1, 6:20), and the letter is traditionally dated to his imprisonment in Rome in the early 60s AD.

Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, and readers there would likely have known a soldier's gear by sight. Paul's armour picture also draws on Isaiah, where God himself puts on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation (Isaiah 59:17).

Key verses

Cross references

• Exodus 20:12 The commandment Paul quotes in verses 2-3, with its promise of long life.Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
• Colossians 3:20-22 A parallel set of instructions to children, fathers and servants.Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
• Isaiah 59:17 The LORD puts on righteousness as a breastplate and an helmet of salvation.For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Paul uses the armour picture again: the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
• Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is sharper than any twoedged sword, filling out the picture of verse 17.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Colossians 4:7 Tychicus also carries Paul's news to the Colossians.All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: