Ephesians 6King James Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters. Then the famous: put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Paul extends household instructions to children and parents, then to servants and masters, grounding both relationships in accountability to God rather than human hierarchy. The letter closes with the armor of God: truth, righteousness, readiness from the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God as weapons against spiritual forces rather than flesh and blood. Paul asks for prayer that he would speak boldly, then sends Tychicus with his personal greetings and a benediction of peace and grace.
Every human relationship and every daily struggle takes place inside a larger spiritual war, and the armor God provides is exactly suited to that fight.
6:12: "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": the real enemy is never the person in front of you.
Paul looks at his guard's armor as he dictates. Belt, breastplate, sandals, shield, helmet, sword. Each piece of Roman equipment becomes a word picture for how a believer survives what cannot be punched or outrun. The irony is exact: the prisoner describes the armor of freedom.
Children and parents, servants and masters navigating daily life under Roman social structures. Paul himself, an ambassador in chains seeking boldness. Tychicus, the trusted courier carrying the letter across Asia Minor.
Chapter 6 completes the letter's arc from heavenly places in chapter 1 to earthly warfare in the final chapter. The armor of God is not a self-help framework but a theological declaration that believers share in Christ's own victory. Each piece corresponds to something Christ embodied. The closing request for prayer reminds readers that the apostle who taught them also needs the same intercession he urged for them.
The command to stand, repeated three times, carries the feel of someone who knows the ground will shake. There is no promise that the battle is easy, only that the armor is sufficient and the day will end.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the 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 whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9And, 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.
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For 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.
13Wherefore 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.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But 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:
22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.