Paul's command to children in Ephesians 6:2 becomes the only New Testament passage to explicitly quote the Fifth Commandment, bridging Mosaic law with Christian household ethics.
Ephesians 6
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.”
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.
The Armor of God
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 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.
Final Greetings and Benediction
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.
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Theme
Paul concludes his letter by addressing Christian household relationships, calling for mutual respect between children and parents, servants and masters, grounded in their shared allegiance to Christ. He then shifts to the famous passage on spiritual warfare, urging believers to put on the full armor of God to stand against spiritual forces of evil. The letter closes with personal requests for prayer and final greetings, emphasizing Paul's continued ministry despite his imprisonment.
Context
This chapter completes the practical applications that began in chapter 5, moving from general Christian living to specific relationships and spiritual warfare.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Children and Parents Instructions for obedience and nurturing within Christian families, grounded in Old Testament commandments.
- 5-9 Servants and Masters Guidelines for workplace relationships that reflect service to Christ and recognition of divine accountability.
- 10-17 The Armor of God Metaphorical description of spiritual equipment needed to stand against demonic forces and spiritual warfare.
- 18-20 Prayer and Ministry Call to persistent prayer for all believers and specific requests for Paul's evangelistic boldness.
- 21-24 Final Greetings Personal updates through Tychicus and closing benediction of peace, love, and grace.
Household Code: Mutual Submission
5:21–6:9 epistle instruction solemn
Paul establishes household codes for Christian relationships, using Christ's love for the church as the model for marriage and extending principles of mutual submission to parent-child and master-servant relationships. The passage emphasizes sacrificial love and respectful obedience within proper authority structures.
quotation_chain
Paul's command to children in Ephesians 6:2 becomes the only New Testament passage to explicitly quote the Fifth Commandment, bridging Mosaic law with Christian household ethics.
The Armor of God
6:10–6:20 epistle instruction urgent
Paul describes the Christian's spiritual battle against evil forces and provides the metaphor of God's armor for spiritual protection and victory. He concludes with a request for prayer support in his ministry as an imprisoned ambassador of the gospel.
person_contrast
Paul's military metaphor uniquely combines Roman armor terminology with Hebrew prophetic imagery, as "breastplate of righteousness" and "helmet of salvation" directly echo Isaiah 59:17's description of God as divine warrior.
Final Greetings and Benediction
6:21–6:24 epistle blessing tender
Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with final greetings through Tychicus and a benediction of peace, love, faith, and grace. This closing emphasizes the pastoral care and divine blessing Paul wishes for the church.
person_contrast
Paul's closing benediction uniquely combines "grace" with "comfort" (παρακαλέω), a pairing that appears in only two other Pauline passages, emphasizing pastoral care over doctrinal instruction.
Insights
Paul's military metaphor uniquely combines Roman armor terminology with Hebrew prophetic imagery, as "breastplate of righteousness" and "helmet of salvation" directly echo Isaiah 59:17's description of God as divine warrior.
Paul's closing benediction uniquely combines "grace" with "comfort" (παρακαλέω), a pairing that appears in only two other Pauline passages, emphasizing pastoral care over doctrinal instruction.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Ephesians 6:1 1 reference
Ephesians 6:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 10:19 Lexical
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do…
Luke 18:20 Lexical
You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor…
Matthew 19:19 Lexical
‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Mark 7:10 Lexical
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to dea…
Matthew 15:4 Lexical
For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to…
Ephesians 6:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Colossians 3:22 Lexical
Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men p…
Philippians 2:12 Lexical
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out…
Romans 6:17 Lexical
But thanks be to God that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teac…
2 Corinthians 7:15 Lexical
His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you r…
1 Corinthians 2:3 Lexical
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Ephesians 6:6 1 reference
Ephesians 6:8 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Corinthians 5:10 Lexical
For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body accordin…
1 Corinthians 12:13 Lexical
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given t…
John 15:15 Lexical
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for ev…
Ephesians 6:10 2 references
Ephesians 6:12 1 reference
Ephesians 6:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ephesians 4:24 Lexical
and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
Luke 12:35 Lexical
“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 Lexical
But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope…
Revelation 1:13 Lexical
And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sa…
Revelation 15:6 Lexical
The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around t…
Ephesians 6:17 1 reference
Ephesians 6:18 2 references
Ephesians 6:19 1 reference
Ephesians 6:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Colossians 4:7 Lexical
All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in t…
Colossians 4:9 Lexical
together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that…
Colossians 1:7 Lexical
even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,
1 Timothy 6:2 Lexical
Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, b…
3 John 1:5 Lexical
Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.
Ephesians 6:22 2 references
Ephesians 6:23 5 references
Lexicals 5
Galatians 5:22 Lexical
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
2 Timothy 2:22 Lexical
Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure…
2 Corinthians 13:11 Lexical
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peac…
2 John 1:3 Lexical
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in t…
1 Timothy 1:2 Lexical
to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
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